Taking Your Trash to the Dumpster

This may sound silly or super obvious, but I found myself realizing something today that somewhat calmed me.

I was taking my trash out to the dumpster. As I was walking to the dumpster, I was particularly aware of how nice the temperature was. In comparison to the last couple of weeks, I was sensitive to the decrease in temperature. 

The dumpsters had just been emptied, and the big black lids were down. As I lifted the lid, an overwhelming stench of rotten filth engulfed me. I quickly threw my bag of trash into the dumpster, and began walking back to my apartment.

On the way back, I realized that regardless of who you are, what you wear, the products you buy, or your philosophies of life; you got trash. Furthermore, your trash stinks. It stinks just like mine. If there is anything in life that we all have in common, it's the fact that we are recipients of, accumulate, and often produce junk.

If we keep it all in our houses, our houses will inevitably begin to smell just as bad as that dumpster does. It would eventually begin to affect our physical health, it would inhibit our ability to rest well at night, and would expose us to preventable disease and sickness.

We would be silly to keep trash in our houses because there has been a system developed for disposal. We take our trash to the dumpster, and we expect our neighbors to do the same. It isn't my responsibility to take my neighbor's trash out. However, I could kindly show them where the dumpster is, or offer to help clear out their junk.

In a similar way, our emotional junk needs attention. It's a normal part of life, just like trash accumulation, but sometimes we like to hoard our "inside" pain. Too afraid that if someone else smells my trash, they'll realize how disgusting I am. But I believe that the true fear lies not on me, but on them. It takes strength to realize your inside trash. Seeing someone else's pain quickly reminds us of our own.

Truth is that it needs taken care of, tended to, and cleaned out. Perhaps a nice freshener to replace it with. It requires consistent maintenance. At times, it insists help from an outside person. At other times, it requires deep reflection. Regardless, it demands persistence and strength. 

I'm thankful for the analogy that it seems God helped me see today. Be encouraged to play an active part in your emotional health. You're worth it.