The other day I got stuck in the slow lane behind a garbage truck. Even with the air on recirculate, I could smell the contents of a McDonald’s dumpster. “Well, this stinks,” I said through clenched teeth.😬
Finally, I was able to slide over into the fast lane, only to get caught by a red light.😖 But that’s when I had time to read the sign on the back.
“How can I get around you if I slow down?!”🤔 I asked the offensive truck. Then I realized what the sign means. When one is traveling in a neighborhood behind a giant garbage truck, it’s best to pass it carefully. You don’t want to hit a sanitation worker, or meet another vehicle head on.
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
Proverbs 19:11
Frankly, the sign on the garbage truck was a sign from God. At least for me. Recently, I’ve felt a bit stuck (that’s twice in one post) behind situations that, quite simply, stink. The temptation to speed around them has been strong.
“So, what if I WANT you to follow a proverbial “garbage truck” for awhile?” said the Holy Spirit. “Is it really a deal-breaker?” Well, when you put it that way, Lord… I suppose I can slow down to get around.
Is it okay if I hold my nose?
Thank you for reading. 🙏❤️prayers and love.
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
50 responses to “Slow Down to Get Around”
Thank you, CG!
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I enjoy your blog as well. Have a blessed weekend. I hope you are able to refresh yourself for another week.
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Thank you for adding your valuable thoughts, CG. When I encountered the trash truck I was approaching burn out. God indeed used the message to slow me down. I went home that day and took the rest of the day off–a rarity for me. Thank you for supporting my little blog. Your site is one of my favorites!
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I worked with a utility years ago to help promote that slogan when it was new. Their workers often complained about cars speeding around their trucks when they were working. A widow of a trash truck driver was our spokesperson. Her husband was killed by a driver passing his stopped truck. I like your analogy. Sometimes God slows us down to protect us.
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Me too, Crystal. God has used everyday things, like a sign on the back of a truck, to point me in the right direction. Sometimes it has even been a song on the radio that spoke perfectly to my situation. I am grateful for His personal messages to me. Thank you for reading and sharing. God Bless!
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I’m a believer of signs (and Proverbs) even in the most unexpected places.
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Oh ok! Interesting. Thanks for the scoop! 🤔
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Thank you, Bridget. Andy Oldham, from christiangrandfather.com contacted me a few months ago via email and invited me to post on his site. I emailed him back with a few questions but never heard back.
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Hi David. There is a blog that I recently started following on WordPress. christiangrandfather.org is the way I see it on WordPress. But they also have another site christiangrandfather.com. Anyway, Andy reached out to me, looking for some potential guest posts. I thought of you because the articles are especially geared towards dads and granddads. I just thought I would mention it, in case you were interested in writing a guest post for them. If so you can check out this page: https://christiangrandfather.com/submissions/. Or you can also email Andy at andy@christiangrandfather.org. If not, that’s okay too, and I apologize if I spoke out of turn. I know you have done guest posts for other blogs before. So I thought you might be interested. 😊
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You’re most welcome, P. God can truly use anyone or anything to teach us valuable life lessons. Thanks for reading and sharing. God Bless!
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David,
Thanks for the “stinky” lesson!. I’m glad God can use anything to get His lessons across!
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Amen
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Thanks, Betty. I hope you and Dan have a wonderful day.
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Thank you, Bridget. It’s encouraging to know I’m not the only one who wants to get around the unsavory parts of life. But, like you said, these moments often mold us the most. 🙏May God continue to bless your writing ministry.
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Yes sir! Every day is a learning day with the Lord—when we let Him set the pace.
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I appreciate your kind and encouraging words, Manette Kay. You’ve done much to help others by telling your own story. May Jehovah Jiyrah (our provider) continue to bless your life as well.
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I love this! I know what you mean. I definitely want to run around those stinky situations too. And I have to grit my teeth to admit that the Lord has used those situations to mold me. Lol. Great post! Blessings!
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Every day is a learning day with the Lord 😊
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David, as you authentically share yourself, the stench of life that you desire to get around has become a “sweet aroma” through your story. Thank you for humbly sharing, it is touching many. Jehovah bless you.
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Nice post, David. I love the Bible verse you selected.
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You’re most welcome, Dawn. Thank you for reading and commenting. God Bless!
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Great reminder that we sometimes have to endure uncomfortable situations and allow God to carry us through. Thanks David 🤗
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I’m sorry to hear about your “stinky” news, Jo. 🙏May our Heavenly Father calm you with His peace.
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Just got some “stinky” news this morning. Timely encouragement!
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I like your list, Barb! You’re on to something here. We often learn the most from the things that bother us. Thank you for stopping by. God Bless!
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Love this!
Just remember, we may think that something stinks, when in reality the offensive odor is there to teach us something.
Things like:
Slow down
Be patient
Take a deep breathe
Read that again
Give grace to that annoying person
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Now that’s some real garbage duty, Andy B! Yes, the smell, and the slow speed of the truck, we’re a terrible combination. Yet God used that stinky truck to teach me a life lesson. Thank you for sharing your story. God’s best to the Berry Bunch.
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My first real work after leaving school was drilling through domestic waste that had been sat in a landfill for 25 years.
We drilled down 10-15 metres in order to install giant pipes to extract the methane – to prevent explosions and to use for energy for the landfill site.
The smell and sight was something I’ve never forgotten lol the liquid that came out of the hole is forever lodged in my mind too – and that was 26 years ago.
Smells are so very evocative at recalling memories aren’t they.
And yes, always a good lesson to remember to slow down. God is never in a rush, so we shouldn’t be either.
I’m guilty of that – thanks for the reminder!!
Andy B
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I guess you could say that “Slow down to get around” was the way of life there. Sadly, many don’t live by that motto anymore. It is nerve wracking to watch impatient motorists pass buggies at hill crests and before blind turns. Those moments remind me of the importance of being patient.
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Timely and practical advice, David. Thank you! Blessings!
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Life does not come with a remote control where we can fast-forward, pause or stop. That’s where our faith in God comes in like you’ve pointed out in many of your posts!
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Will do, BG. Just image me saying this while holding my nose.😁
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Yes, indeed! God put this life lesson right in front of my eyes, and nose! Fast-forwarding through the unappealing parts of life seems like a good idea, but reality is not a B movie. Thank you for reading and commenting. I love the way your mind works, too!
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Def hold nose!
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I absolutely love the way your mind works! “This stinks!” Yes, literally, but you share it with us anyway because we can find life lessons in every, little thing, if we are looking!
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It sounds like growing up in Amish country gave you plenty of opportunities to “Slow Down to Get Around.” The commute to work from our quaint little town gets more challenging by the year. I suppose life can be like that in general. Thank you for sharing, Beth. God Bless!
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David, that’s an important driving skill both for the road and life. Growing up in the heart of the Amish countryside, one of the most important lessons my parents taught us kids when we were learning how to drive was how to patiently wait until all was clear to pass a buggy, a farm wagon, or a tractor. Depending on the hilliness or curviness of the road that might mean patiently trailing the slow moving vehicle for several miles. The worst waits were when you happened on the wagon or tractor that was hauling the manure.
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Thank you, Andy. God Bless.
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Thanks, Jessy! God (and life) has way of slowing us down when we don’t heed the warning signs. I appreciate your reading and commenting. God Bless!
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I appreciate this post. In such a fast-paced world, it’s good to slow down.
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Good Artcile
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True. Jesus found time to pray—even if it was early in the morning. Thanks for stopping by, Matt. Blessings!
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Junk collector sounds more desirable than garbage collector. I actually worked on a trash truck for awhile when I was in seminary. It’s amazing what some folks throw away, even poor graduate students. You’re right, G. W. Jesus is a good junk collector. I’m so glad God feels the world is worth saving. Thank you for your input, brother. God Bless.
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It is good to slow down at times in life. Jesus did while on earth
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I always wanted to be a garbage man. More precisely a junk collector. Same thing without the smell. Where would we be without junk collectors. If Jesus wasn’t so good a junk collector I would still be on a fast track to hell. Might even be writing this from there now!
Great application, David. Made me slow down and think! Blessings!
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Gary, you placed a “Fultz finger“ on the key lesson here: bypassing our trials too quickly means missing out on increased patience and wisdom. Thank you for your input. God Bless.
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I have often wondered how long my life would be if we were able to fast-forward around the parts of life that stink.
I would dare say I would be bypassing the formula for wisdom and patience as well.
Good thots David, even though a little smelly.
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Yes Sir! I love it💕
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Will do, tamweary, with one hand on the steering wheel. ☺️ Thank you! God Bless.
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Hold Your Nose and Hold On!!💕
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