As I walked to my exercise class this morning, I noticed that the surroundings looked exceptionally clean. Approaching the Community Centre, I noticed two large garbage bags filled with plastic bottles for recycling and found my answer. The clean-up crew had passed through and had done an excellent job…lol.

As I smiled about the situation I remembered the phrase, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. This was certainly the case here. What others had improperly disposed of, resulting in an eyesore of trash and litter, had become an income generating activity for someone who looked beyond the problem and seized the opportunity that had presented itself.

You and I could learn a thing or two from this. In Chinese, the word that is used for crisis is the same one that is used for opportunity. That is very instructive. When faced with what appears on the surface to be a crisis, look further. Look beneath the surface to see the opportunity which is hidden within. Look for the silver lining in the dark cloud. It is sometimes hidden in plain sight.

Similarly, in God’s economy, nothing is wasted. Every situation you face has a lesson to be learnt. Every test can produce a testimony. In every trial, there is a built-in miracle. Every mess can become a message. Nothing is ever wasted by God. Allow Him to turn your trash into treasure.

Shalom!