by A.J. Gregory | in Uncategorized | 2 comments

A few weeks ago, a friend called me to say her six-year-old daughter reprimanded her while she was brushing her teeth. As her mom swished, gargled and spat, the girl noticed the water running. And the little one flipped out. Her face flushed with anger, she yelled with the force of the Hulk. “Mom! Don’t waste water! Don’t you understand? It’s all we have!”

My friend and I shared a good laugh, but honestly I was a little embarrassed. I do the same thing sometimes. I don’t realize how much water I waste. (Not to mention I’m so behind on recycling.) Most of us need to do a better job preserving our natural resources and recycling whatever is recyclable. You know, save the planet people!

But maybe you’re like me. Maybe you waste more than water. Maybe you toss glass bottles into oblivion instead of giving them the opportunity to be salvaged. Or maybe you waste your time. Or energy. Or attention. Or money. Or talents. Maybe thinking about what you have wasted or even continue to waste in life makes you embarrassed. Or want to hide.

I’m no stranger to waste. At times, I gamble away my time and my emotional, mental, and spiritual energy in exchange for dumb things. Like wallowing in personal shame and guilt and missing out on being present to others. Or being so distracted by my own shortcomings I shortchange the grace I’ve been given.To some degree, we all waste something. Some more than others. Hey, we’re human. But in the same vein, we’re growing (hopefully). Becoming more aware. Surrendering. Becoming. Though I squander stuff, I’m also a woman who has received mercy, peace, and frequent soul renovations by the one I call the Great Recycler—God. Day by day, layer by layer, He works in and through me.

He uncovers. He excavates. He explores. He shapes. He shifts. He renews. I like that. I need that. Less waste, more recycling.

More thoughts to follow. For now, are you guilty of wasting? Are you overwhelmed (in a good way) by recycling? Have you seen God’s recycling program evident in your life?