Why Recycle? It’s stewardship, and you wouldn’t trash stewardship!
Parents are often very concerned about how their children behave in someone else’s home. As children we’re told to treat other’s homes and belongings as if they were our own.
In fact, we hold ourselves to a higher standard when it comes to other’s belongings than we do with our own. We would never borrow a tool and return it dirty or put our feet on someone else’s coffee table (even though we might in our own homes).
I recently had the privilege of having a two-year guest in my home: the daughter of a friend who wanted a family environment for his college-aged daughter. Since my husband and I have plenty of room and live less than a mile from the college she was attending, we were thrilled to oblige.
During the first week of her stay, I noticed recyclable plastic bottles in the trashcan, rather than the recycle bin. This threw me back a bit, since it’s just as easy to recycle as it is to toss items in my household. I explained the recycling system in my household and left it at that.
The next week, there were more plastic bottles in the garbage bin. Now, I’m aware of the fact that many 18-year-olds (no matter how wonderful they are) often don’t listen. Their ears are plugged with Smartphone or iPod ear buds half of their awake-lives.
But, I have to say I was a bit perplexed, and miffed. Here was this lovely young woman defying my household rules. What’s up with that?!
I searched for a way to change her habits by changing her heart. I needed to give her reasons to recycle that meant something to her.
Then the Bible verse Psalm 24:1 came to me. I told her, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, and all who live in it.” When you toss something in the garage, you’re tossing it on God’s lawn (I added the last part for drama).
Now, if God were you next-door neighbor, you surely wouldn’t throw trash in his yard. But, he’s not your neighbor; he’s your landlord – the landlord over the earth, and we are only stewards.
I continued to explain stewardship as the responsibility of caring for and managing something. When you are a steward, you aren’t the owner, you’re the servant. That’s the best reason to recycle there is!
We live in a world where disposing of some items is necessary. But I at least wanted the young woman, now placed in my stewardship, to think about her actions. I’m happy to report she had an immediately change of heart and actions.
I’ll admit that there are some things that just can’t be recycled, that must be tossed into the trash. And, I’m guilty of purchasing and trashing such items.
However, when I’m truly aware of my stewardship responsibilities, I’m more conscious in my buying habits. I purchase groceries packaged with minimal packaging. And, given the choice, I purchase items in recyclable packaging over identical items in non-recyclable packaging. Recycling has become a part of my lifestyle.
But even with all my effort, I still often forget who I am and need reminding of my place as a steward.
What would happen if we were to rethink how we are to dispose of items BEFORE we purchase them? Would you buy wooden toys over plastic? Would our basements and garages be littered with paint cans and chemicals? Would we borrow rather than purchase? Would we recycle?!
By now, everyone has heard the phrase: “reduce, reuse, recycle”. I’d like to add my own word to this adage: “rethink”. Maybe rethinking our place on this big earth is all we need to change our hearts and habits.
Photo credit: another.point.in.time
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