The woman at our church clothing closet lifted my blue blouse out of the bag. Then she held it up to the window.
There was a yellow stain under one arm. I had washed that blouse so many times that I’d stopped seeing it.
She didn’t say a word. She folded it, smiled at me and set it in a box under the table.
“What’s that box for?” I asked.
“Oh, those are the ones we can’t use,” she said. “I take them out to the trash on my way home.”
I felt my face get warm. I had walked in there feeling so good about myself. But I had really handed her my trash in a nice bag, and given her one more job to do.
Maybe you’ve wondered the same thing I wondered that day. Is it okay to throw things away, when so many people need so much?
I’ve thought about it a lot since then, and my answer is yes. Sometimes the trash can is the kind choice.
Why the Trash Can Feels So Wrong
