“Treat others the way you would have them treat you: this sums up the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12
We’ve all been in traffic before. Perhaps you’ve gotten frustrated or angry. Unfortunately, it’s all too common to join in the road rage.
But what would happen if we didn’t allow ourselves to join in the rage?
Author and motivational speaker, David Pollay, had an ah-ha moment about this while in a taxi cab in New York City.
One day he hopped in a taxi and was soon on his way to the airport. They were driving in the right lane when suddenly a car sped out of a parking space right in front of his cab. The taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches.
The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at the taxi driver. But here’s where the usual recipe for rage changed. David’s taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy with complete sincerity and friendliness.
David had to ask, “Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!”
The taxi driver smiled as he answered. He then told him what would become known as “The Law of the Garbage Truck.”
He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they’ll dump it on you. Don’t take it personally, just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don’t take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.
That kind wisdom is something the world would do well to remember today. And isn’t it really just a reminder of the Golden Rule, to “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you?”
Today, if you find yourself in a frustrating situation (and let’s face it –there could be many opportunities for that), try to remember the Golden Rule and The Law of the Garbage Truck.
Instead of turning down the road of rage, try the alternative. Try to take the high road.
Watering the Seeds
What are the triggers in your life that cause you to dump your garbage on others?
How might your faith help you find patience and peace in these moments of frustration?
