Picture this: a lone figure on the side of the road, armed with nothing but a grabber and a real estate-sized A-frame sign declaring “Kindness In Progress.” That’s our hero, Doug, embarking on a trashy adventure that would change lives – including mine.
Now, Doug wasn’t your average litter picker. He was starting a new church with empty pockets and a heart full of hope. By day, he stocked shelves at the local grocery store. By Friday afternoon, he transformed into the Trash Collecting Messiah of Dayton, Ohio.
The things Doug found could fill a trashy novel: cans (lots of cans), condoms (oh my!), and a surprising number of syringes (yikes!). Once, he even stumbled upon someone’s paycheck – talk about finding treasure in unexpected places! (The owner was beyond grateful.)
Inspired by Doug’s roadside ministry, I decided to bring this show to Cincinnati. But being the fashion icon that I am, I added a twist: knicker golf pants and a golf bag with my grabbers. Because nothing says “I’m picking up trash for Jesus” like looking like you just stepped off the set of Downton Abbey’s country club episode.
My trashy exploits took an international turn when I was invited to speak in New Zealand. The local government, apparently not thrilled about Christian outreach, put the kibosh on our plans. But we had an ace up our sleeve – or should I say, a trash bag in our hand?
We donned bright green safety vests emblazoned with “Kindness in Progress” and hit the streets. Before long, we had an audience, including a journalist who coined the phrase “Blessed are the garbage collectors.” Move over, Beatitudes – there’s a new blessing in town!
At the same conference, one of my heroes – who didn’t know me from a hole in the ground – approached me and said, “What you’re talking about is what I had in mind for Youth With A Mission” which is the largest mission agency in the world. I nearly fainted. It was like trash-picking royalty giving me a high-five!
But let’s circle back to Doug, the OG of this whole trash-to-treasure ministry. He was living out Matthew 25 in real-time, separating the sheep from the goats through action, not just words. While others were busy being theoretical goats, Doug was out there being a practical sheep.
Fast forward, and Doug’s little roadside church grew to several thousand members. I can’t help but wonder how many of those folks realize their spiritual home started with a guy, a sign, and a trash grabber. It’s like the ultimate “started from the bottom, now we’re here” story – holy edition.
In the end, Doug’s tale reminds us that sometimes, the path to building a community starts with cleaning up your own backyard – literally. It’s a testament to the power of simple acts of kindness and the unexpected places where we might find purpose.
As for me? Well, I’m still aspiring to be like Doug when I grow up. Maybe I’ll keep the knicker golf pants, though. After all, who says you can’t pick up trash in style?
