You may have heard the phrase, “First World problems.” It’s usually used by someone who is frustrated about something that they know, deep down, is a relatively minor problem when considered against the challenges faced by people in poorer countries. I think we’ve been seeing a bit of that recently with East Herts District Council’s changes to our waste recycling arrangements. I remember a few years back, when we were given the blue-lidded mixed recycling bin, how one person remarked, “We’ve now got more bins than people at this house.” The latest change has made that apply to more, if not most homes across the district. Storage space, tight enough before, has become a real challenge for many.
As I have browsed through the various social media complaints about the roll-out of the new scheme, I have noticed three main themes. The first was the complete failure of the council to deliver the new bins in time. The second concern has been over the complexity of the system – the changes of use of particular bins, the changes in what can now be recycled and the changing frequency and dates of the collections. The third has been over the quality of the new food-waste bins – in particular the fragility and fiddly nature of the locking handles and the fear that they will encourage vermin.
I suspect we will all get used to it in time, but I can sympathise with people who have been confused by the changes, not provided with the right bins (or bins of suitable quality) or who have found their new bins carelessly strewn across the road by the collectors on week one. All told, I don’t think this has been East Herts District Council’s finest hour.
How reassuring, then, to know that God is better at dealing with the rubbish that humankind produces in terms of bad attitude and behaviour. Jesus told a story of a man with two sons in which the younger son disrespects his father and wrecks his own life in “wild living.” Eventually he comes to his senses, recognises that his life is rubbish and remembers his father was generous and kind. He resolves to return home. Jesus tells us, “While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and … ran to his son,” not, as would have been expected, to send him packing, but to embrace him and welcome him home! God, unlike EHDC but like the father in Jesus’ story, is completely ready for us when we come to our senses and need to bring our filthy souls to him. And the good news of the Christian faith, unlike the new recycling process and timetable, is not complicated – there’s no question of us bringing some things to Jesus and struggling with other things ourselves; Jesus deals with everything. And when I say everything, that means past, present and future failures to live as God intends – Jesus takes all of our guilt and shame. And we need not worry whether Jesus will let us down – the brown bins may lose their lids and EHDC may miss our collection, but in the grace and kindness of God, Jesus has already taken the sin of all those who trust him and nailed it to the cross. As he himself said at the moment of his death, “It is finished!”
May you be comforted by and respond to God’s offer to deal with your rubbish.
Image by Davie Bicker from Pixabay