Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Grace Pending

Home
Catholic
What Do We Value?

What Do We Value?

Last updated on: July 7, 2015 at 6:19 pm by Tom Zampino

What Do We Value? 2015-07-07T18:19:55-05:00 Tom Zampino

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Twenty-five years of accumulated household stuff has a way of overwhelming a modest home.

Tons of read – and unread – books, Scrabble games with missing tiles (but somehow with a full complement of Qs, Xs, and Zs), Monopoly games with a shortage of cash rivaling an Athens ATM, and toys long-since abandoned for lipstick, prom dresses, running shoes, and jewelry.

So this past week, a huge dumpster for hire was placed strategically in our driveway.

Day after day, each of us took turns purging, releasing, moving on.

Just a few memories salvaged. Some yellowed photos here, some school awards there. The rest, as they say, is history.

Then he showed up.

On a bike much too small for him. A twenty or thirty-something neighbor who spoke no English. When I first noticed him inside the dumpster, he cowered. Would I yell at him? Demand that he get out right this minute?

Hell, I don’t want to get sued if he gets injured (I know how these things work).

But then I noticed what he was pulling out and setting aside. Toys – toys still fit for some little girl. And clothes perhaps for that same child, clothes that have seen better days. And pens and scrap paper, still a bit usable.

All I could manage to say was “Be careful” – which I imagined that he understood.

He smiled. And continued rummaging.

Over the next couple of days, he returned, looking for some new discarded treasure. Each of us saw him. Each of us told him to be careful. Each time he waved and smiled at us. Each time we waved and smiled back.

This morning I noticed it.

A very bulky, very heavy, very greasy carpet that had been pulled up from the garage and placed next to the dumpster – one that was too heavy for me (or any of us) to lift in one piece, one that was awaiting more than a few minutes of my time to chop it into little swatches – was somehow neatly placed inside, all in one piece.

We know who did it.

Sometime during the night.

As my wife said: Friendship is a two way street.

It sure is.

And so is kindness.

In that discarded debris, our visitor and we found something that we all highly valued.

And it sure wasn’t the stuff.

Peace

Photo Image Credit Here: Carlos. A. Martinez via Wikimedia Commons

Uncategorized

Previous Post

July 4, 2015

Be at Peace and Celebrate Freedom

Next Post

July 9, 2015 Don't Assume That I Don't Understand (These 10 Things)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Belief Changes Evil Faith Guest Post Jenner Laudato si Lawyers Life Prayer Priesthood Reviews Uncategorized

Select a Month April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who advised Moses to appoint judges to help lead the people?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Miriam Joshua Jethro Aaron