Need a job

It was a number of years ago when I first met him.  He had just emigrated to this country from Europe and was eager to start a new life for himself and his family.

We spoke about work.  He asked me, ‘what were the jobs Australians least like doing’.  I thought for a bit knowing how difficult it was to get seasonal fruit pickers and other part time shift workers but settled on Public Toilet cleaning.

Within days he had a full-time job with the local council and would travel around the council toilet facilities cleaning and removing waste material.  Because of the recruitment problems the job paid extremely well.

So often we see people turn their noses up at the very mention of occupations such as sewerage worker, street cleaner or garbage collector.  It seems the work, and those employed peforming the tasks, are often treated with some disdain.

Yet without these essential community services our health would deteriorate, our cities and towns would cease to function efficiently and our quality of life would slowly disintegrate.

Next time you see the garbo, or the person who pumps out the septics and greasetraps, why not give them a smile and a wave.  They are probably performing a more important role in the community than you or I could ever hope to achieve.

I am sure our entry into Heaven won’t be determined by the job we perform here on earth but rather by what we do for God and for one another. 

I’m Peter Mack and that’s faith.

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