Down in the Dumps

Daniel, like many four-year-old boys, is a truck fanatic. He is especially fond of fire engines, ambulances and trash trucks. Siren noises accompanied by the patter of running feet is a common sound in our home. On any given day, he might confide to you that he wants to be a firefighter or a truck driver. And on trash pickup day, the moment we hear the truck turn down our street, he is the first one to run to the window in gleeful expectation.

That's why yesterday was a day of delight for Daniel. We went on a field trip to the site of the world's largest trash collection agency, Waste Management. It was amazing to learn that this site processes enough trash in one week to fill the Anaheim Stadium!

Our enthusiastic tour guide explained to us the importance of recycling, and showed off interesting products made from recycled goods. Her hat was made out of recycled paper, and the pencils she passed out to the kids was made out of recycled reclaimed currency! She inspired in us a renewed commitment to being diligent recyclers and protecting God's precious planet.

After our recycling lesson, it was time to walk around and see the various sights at the dump.


What a waste!


One of the many trucks we watched.


Each of these bales contains 17,000+ plastic bottles!


Daniel the Trash Truck Driver

It's sobering to ponder the time and money we spend on buying, maintaining and storing so many things before they find their final resting place.

At the dump.

"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3:8