The Law of Garbage Truck

Relevant Bible Verses:-

1) Matt 5:38-39 An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you not to resist him who is evil; rather whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

2) Matt 5:45,48 So that you may become sons of your Father who is in the heavens, because He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust. You therefore shall be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.

3) James 4:6 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
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My wife and I were busy shopping for food and groceries on the Saturday just before Chinese New Year (CNY) at the wet market near our house in preparation for the coming auspicious day. It was quite normal that the market was much busier than usual during this period as more Chinese people were rushing to store up sufficient food for the coming CNY celebration.

After our rounds in the crowded wet market and our usual weekly wanton noodle breakfast, we quickly whipped our car out of the busy and congested market area only to realize we had forgotten to pack some noodle breakfast for our two kids who were waiting impatiently at home. I made a U-Turn into the busy market area heading towards the noodle stall and was caught in a massive jam.

Following behind another car turning into the back lane trying to avoid the jam, the car in front stopped suddenly and just parked his car right in the middle of the through road, blocking me. When I signaled him to move his car, he shouted at me asking me to reverse my car instead. Then he gently opened the door for his wife and kids, walked away from his car and into the restaurant for their breakfast, while my wife and I sat in our car shocked and speechless! How could a normal man, with children and wife next to him behave so rudely, ill-mannered, oblivious, insensitive and total disregard for others? I asked silently.

There were so many evil retaliation thoughts running wild in my mind at that moment in time. It was a perfect time to engage in an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth position! Anyway after about the longest 2 minutes seated in the car speechless thinking about all the “evil things” I could do to this person and his car, I reluctantly engaged the reverse gear and backed off our car, speechless and furiously mad, while the person and his family looked unperturbed, seated in the restaurant ordering their breakfast!

Since that unforgettable outraging incident, I have been waiting for the right moment to relate this experience in my blog until I read the following email sent to me:-


by David J. Pollay

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly he/she can get back her focus on what's important.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

Many people are like garbage truck. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally.

You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.

So this was it: The 'Law of the Garbage Truck.' I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets?

It was that day I said, 'I'm not going to do it anymore.' I began to see garbage trucks.

I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Teachers and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.

What about you?

What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?


Sometimes, it may seem unfair on ourselves that we have been taken advantage of the situation or perhaps being bullied. But in the above Bible verses, the Lord is asking us to resist whatever that is evil and be kind to those who offended us - go with him the second mile!

How difficult it is to be kind to people who offended us, but God gives grace to those who humble.

The Mask

Relevant Bible Verses:-

1) Phil. 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ...

2) Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me…

3) Phil 3:9 And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is out of law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is out of God and based on faith

4) Eph. 4:15 But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ.
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The Mask is a movie about an incredibly nice and shy bank clerk by the name, Stanley Ipkiss, who has just discovered a mysterious ancient green wooden mask by the sea that is inhabited by Loki, the Norse night god of mischief. When Stanley puts on the mask, he transforms into an uncontrolled reflection of himself in a wacky-suited green-skinned cartoony romantic maniac that does craziest things and amazes the people in search of justice and a good time too. The transformed new super-hero could perform acts beyond the wildest dream of any man on the street without actually exposing the real identity of Stanley.

Many a time we are like the transformed Stanley, hiding ourselves behind the mask and wearing not only one but variety of masks to suit different occasions or when dealing with different sets of people. We can become a better actor than those in the Hollywood with so many masks available for our selection. It is very natural for us to act differently in front of different sets of people. In the Christian life it is easy to agree and follow certain practices. For example, we may be told that we are not a good listener and later quickly adopt the practice of good listening skills. We may also join Lion Club or other charity organizations to embrace and harness generosity when we find lack of charitable heart. We may succeed to become a better listener and a very generous person and yet fail to live Christ.

It is one thing to follow a certain practice or custom; it is another thing to live Christ. I do not think God cares too much of how holy, spiritual, or victorious we are in ourselves. Actually, to live in this way by self-effort and pretense can be a struggle for many. In effect by doing so, we are striving to keep the law. What counts in the eyes of God is the righteousness of Christ living in us (See “New Covenant”). It is by faith in the righteousness of Christ which is of God and His grace that we have been saved.

“The problem in your life and mine is not the availability or the lack of availability of truth. It is the hypocrisy in our search….” (Dr Ravi Zacharias).

Let us not put on masks in our daily walk with Christ but instead live Christ and put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand (Eph 6:13). But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ (Eph 4:15).

Sitting on a Gold Mine

Relevant Bible Verses:-

1) Luke 10:39-41 Martha had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!". "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

2) 1 John 2:16 The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and vainglory of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.
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There is a particular firearm presently being exhibited in a Canadian provincial museum. The story behind the display is quite intriguing.

The firearm was used in a bank robbery in 1990 by a 24-year old man, named Curtis. It was the biggest mistakes of Curtis’ life that caused him eight years behind bars for his crime. On the night before the intended and well plan robbery, Curtis went to his father’s home for supper. While the parents were busy in the kitchen, he sneaked into his parents’ bedroom and stole his father’s gun.

The next day he used the gun to hold up a bank and managed to leave with two canvas bags filled with $6,000.00 of cash. The police was able to identify him after reviewing the recorded video camera tapes. He was eventually arrested in his apartment and the holdup weapon was seized as evidence.

You see, Curtis had no need to rob the bank. He stole $6,000, but paid a very high price for it. He had his dad's gun that he used to hold up the bank. That was no ordinary gun. It was a .45-caliber Colt semi-automatic made by the Ross Rifle Company back in 1918. This limited edition antique firearm was valued at $100,000, more than 16 times the value of the stolen money. He was sitting on a gold mine without even realizing it.

In the above passage, we can see two sisters with two different sets of character; Martha being busy and distracted by all the preparations that had to be made, while Mary did nothing but only sat at the feet of Jesus listening to what He has to say.

Many a time we are like Martha, always wanting to do things and ended up being distracted with the preparations that had to be made so much so we forgot to appreciate the real Christ within us. We worry and desire for the material things of the world, which do not belong to the Father.

Although we may have all the energy and capacity to be patient and hardworking, but soon our natural body shall eventually be exhausted. Our natural patience and strength are limited. When our patience and strength begin to deplete, we can easily be provoked and quick to anger as did Martha – blaming her sister Mary for not doing anything. As the result with the lack of wisdom, Martha had lost the opportunity to be with the Lord and thus impeded her growth in God.

Christ’s patience is inexhaustible and immeasurable. He is our refuse, ability, power, patience, love and wisdom, all with unlimited greatness and without measure. If only we are willing to humble ourselves sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to Him. It is so important to know what has been installed for our lives with the blood of Christ in eternity - our stance, position, vision, purpose and destiny in the divine God’s great plan and economy.

We do not want to be working so hard and fighting aimlessly, to the extent of robbing the banks yearning for the finer temporal things of this world where we already have in our possession the “crown jewel” or “pot of gold” right under our nose. Let us not failed to realize that we are in effect sitting on a gold mine in the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ provides the answer to the dying soul and He is the life beyond the grave.

Walking with the King

Relevant Bible Verses:-

1) 1 John 2:16 The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and vainglory of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.

2) 2 Cor 12:1 must go on boasting…, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.

3) 2 Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.

4) Rev 19:16 …KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
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Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays celebrated by all the Chinese around the world. It is also known as the Lunar New Year especially by the people in the mainland China and Taiwan.

A reunion dinner is traditionally held at the home of the most senior member of the family on the eve of the New Year where members of the family, near and far away come together for this auspicious celebration. Red packets (“angpows”) are often distributed to the younger unmarried immediate family members during the reunion dinner. These packets contain money that reflects good fortune, prosperity and honorability.

It was indeed a very joyful and merry atmosphere when we had our reunion dinner in my house. I could observe non-stop dialogues, the “catching-up” conversations and exchanging of ideas between family members. It seemed like everybody was talking and no one was listening around the dining table. It was rowdy. Issues of life, children, schools, career path, holidays and other life in general were discussed. But there was one particular discussion or topic that really caught my attention. It has prompted me to think about our current position being a Christian.

The discussion was about a strong charismatic devoted pastor who divorced his wife, left his children and turned into a very successful businessman. Apparently the separation compensation for the wife ran into millions of dollars. In a friendly casual conversation with one of my family members, this ex-pastor was boasting about his boundless high profile networks and proudly mentioned that he walked along with the king of Malaysia in one of the official ceremonial events. One of the many comments out of the reunion dinner table that night that hit the nail on the head triggering me to write this article was, “he has forgotten once he was walking with the King of kings”! How timely and appropriate?

What could possibly go wrong? Is the situation that bad? Temptation must be strong? Life must be good and better in the circular world. I asked quietly.

1 John 2:16 mentioned that the lust of the eyes and vainglory of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. Materialism is the lust of the eyes. These are the “finer things” in life people of this world yearn for (see article “Humility”).

God has mentioned for centuries now, that the fundamental problem with man is his own very heart that’s twisted, almost demonic within the heart of man. The insatiable human heart desires to have plenty causing the misalignment of the heart with God’s great economy and plan. How deceitful and desperately wicked is the human heart? (Ps 36:3). Bible called this sin.

We need Christ for us to overcome the wickedness and craftiness of our human heart. We must, with persistency and single mindedness, focusing on the visions and revelations from the Lord. Praying faithfully and consistently that we would not be tempted (Matt 6:13). So that we can ultimately be proud to proclaim, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

We do not want to wake up in the morning standing in front of the mirror and seeing nothing!