Lessons from Green Acres’ Pickup Truck

Lessons from Green Acres’ Pickup Truck

QIC: Writer - Burlap

Date: 02 June 2026

PAX: Intended to be read by all

Two or three weeks ago, YHC was volunteering with Green Acres, Boomerang, and Spicoli at GreeNest.  We had just finished unloading furniture from GA’s truck when I noticed that one corner of the tailgate was slightly bent and its paint scratched — maybe a few square inches of damage.  I commented about this casually to Green Acres as we were putting the frame and straps back in the truck bed, and GA said something fairly innocuous, but it has stuck with me a while and caused me to write this “backblast”:  “Every scratch on this truck is from GreeNest.” 

He said it in a matter-of-fact way of explaining the dent and not in a complaining way at all.  There was no regret in his tone.  It was just a truth that he knew that I would understand and empathize with.

Now, the interesting thing is that Green Acres cares a good deal about the look and paint job on his truck.  He likes it to be clean and problem-free so that he can use it for many more years.  He does not like dents in the tailgate nor anywhere else.  But he can live with them because they were necessary to help move furniture and to assist indirectly folks coming out of homelessness.  The dents are a price he is willing to pay to help others.

This reminds me that love — defined not as “like very much”, nor as romantic love, nor as a beautiful, idyllic concept — but active, selfless, personal love often requires sacrifice.  Frequently, it carries a cost to the lover.  It hurts and is inconvenient.  It is not always easy and natural, and sometimes it doesn’t make you feel good.  But it is the kind of love we should strive for.

This also reminds me of a passage from Philippians that was read at my wedding even though I have fallen short of it every day for nearly 33 years:

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!”  Philippians 2:3-8 (NIV)

So, let me ask us all the question that I should be asking myself:  When we volunteer and serve the community and our families, is it easy and painless?  Or does it have a cost?  And am I willing to pay that cost?

At the end of my life, I hope that I end up with some scratches on my figurative truck.  Thanks for your example, Green Acres.

Peace,

Burlap