In the Book of Deuteronomy, among lots and lots and lots of other laws, is this one.  I find it touching.

When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow….

When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow.

When you gather the grapes of your vinyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow.

A couple of books later, Ruth, who was an alien and a widow, manages to provide for herself and her mother-in-law by gleaning in Boaz’s field.  She ends up marrying him (he’s very rich), and becomes the great-grandmother of King David.  Not a bad deal.

Today, driving through part of east Topeka, I saw a scruffily-dressed and very dirty person pushing a battered grocery cart piled high with aluminum cans.  He had probably picked them up from the side of the road, maybe even searched through dumpsters for them.

Is there a parallel here?  An excuse for littering?

Posted by Sharon under Observations | No Comments »