DUMP TRUCK

PRACTICE: Visualize a dump truck.

I live in a city where construction is booming. I also live in a city hit hard with an F3 -F4 tornado a few weeks ago. Debris, hard hats, orange and yellow vest, cement trucks and DUMP TRUCKS are a part of my everyday landscape. The dump trucks are filled with debris from the storm or from the intentional destruction of an old structure or dirt being hauled from a site to make way for a new building. Dump trucks can also bring things like rocks or dirt to a site to fill in or make secure the topography. The heavily loaded truck is driven to the dump site. I don’t hang out at these sites, but I would imagine that to get rid of the load, the driver doesn’t exit the vehicle and shovel the content out of the truck bed. The driver probably pushes a button, the front of the loaded carrier bed begins to lift, and the entire load is deposited in the designated area.

What does this image have to say to me and you! We are often the loaded dump truck. We are loaded with discouragement, despair, discord and division. Instead of taking our load to a designated spot and dumping it, (for me the spot is at the feet of Jesus) we live under the burden of the heavy load – taking it with us wherever we go. We wear our loads like a favorite article of clothing. We are often the designated dump spot for friends, family and even casual acquaintances to unload their dump truck. We can help them carry the load for a season but eventually their load must be disposed of by them. I (you) can’t accept their load permanently. It is not my job or my calling. And yes, sometimes our dump truck is filled with goodness and graces that need to be dumped in someone’s life to help secure their topography.

Please note that the driver of dump truck does not return to the designated dump yard and reclaim the load. When it is dumped, it is done. Similarly, don’t pick up the stuff that you have dumped out of your life – easier said than done – I know. And don’t require those who have dumped stuff on you to come and take it back, you dump it in a designated area and inform them that you are no longer their co-carrier.

There are at least three questions to consider as you think about this dump truck analogy. 1) What am I carrying that I need to dump, 2) Who is using me as their personal dump site, 3) Do I return and reclaim what I have dumped?

Psalm 34:4

PONDER THIS THOUGHT – Burdens turn to blessings when released.