Everyday Heroes on My Street

He is a short little man. He avoids your stare and will quickly look away if you address him. If you greet him he will walk the other way. I have yet to get him to answer me when I say ‘Hello’. Most days he walks by my house three times in the afternoon. As he walks down the street he is always carrying a plastic bag.

His name is Joseph and he lives with his mother a few doors down from us.

Joseph walks our street everyday to pick up all the garbage that has landed on our street and at the edge of our yards. He picks up plastic bags, chocolate bar wrappers, or bottles. Without a doubt we live on the cleanest street in our city – and maybe even Canada. The only other community that might be better than ours might exist somewhere I suppose – but only if there are two “Josephs” living there – but they would have to be out there more than three times a day…which is unlikely…because ‘our’ Joseph has been seen out there three times in the morning as well.

The affect that he has had on our street is not just the cleaning her does. I have noticed that many folk are now picking up the same items that Joseph picks up.

The other day I saw Joseph over on the next street fetching more garbage that had blown away from someone’s home.

Joseph is an everyday hero.

Another hero comes by once a week. He is likely in his late 30s. He wears a colourful, orange outfit and drives the large garbage truck. As his truck slows to the curb side making frequent stops, there is a rhythm to his work. He sometimes has “sound ear buds” in as he works steadily. Sometimes for variety he has the radio in the truck turned up loudly so he can keep his music going. I call him “Jake”.

Occasionally I have stood there waiting for him as he comes along. As the truck stops I have picked up the garbage bag and thrown it on to the truck for him. With a big smile he yells out “THANKS!” – above the sound in his ears.

“Jake” is a hero on our street. How do I know?

Two doors down from us lives a small family. Mom, Dad and a five year old boy. Each Monday morning when “Jake’s” truck pulls up to get the garbage… the five year old is plastered against the front door window to watch “Jake” and his big truck.

This past week as “Jake” pulled up in front of the five year old’s house… he looked up at the house and waved… the five year old was waving back at him. “Jake” is a five year old’s hero.

Up the street the other way lives another hero. He has some challenges facing a real world. He likely didn’t get far in the normal school setting. I call him “Freddy”. Daily you can see him at least twice as he walks down the street. He is not walking alone but is followed by “Buddy” – a kind of brownish, gray coloured mop – that passes for the dog that lives next door to “Freddy”. As “Freddy” comes to “Buddy’s” house there is a nose glued to the side panel of the door. You can see wet marks on the glass.

“Buddy” takes his time smelling everything, trees, plants and hedges. Everyone needs his inspection. The neat part is that “Freddy” doesn’t hurry “Buddy”. He gives him all the time his friend needs to inspect the street.

These two are both heroes. “Buddy” has given “Freddy” new meaning in his life. Perhaps “Freddy” gets paid to walk the dog… Whatever happens – “ Buddy” wiggles that thick little body when he sees “Freddy” coming up the walkway.

I have come to realize there are heroes real close by. They are hidden for the most part in their busy worlds. No one will ever make a movie of their lives – but without these folks our street wouldn’t be what it is today.

Yesterday I walked into a store. As I approached the door a young lady grabbed the door handle and held the door for me – the older man. Her comment was, “Let me get that for you..” I smiled at her. Another hero…

“Thanks so much Heroes – for making my world a joy to live in.

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~