Familyman Weekly – Dump Station Dilemma

Hey Dad, I’ve been weighing the dump station ethics dilemma. You see, one of the bi-products of life in an RV is that you have to do something with the raw…hmm…waste. Not glamorous.

Anyway, up until the last year it has alway been a free service of many truck stops. Then last year they started charging for every dump and even installed electronic locking devices.

Here’s the deal. We’ve cracked the code and know the back door combination. In fact, sometimes the dump mechanism doesn’t always lock itself…as was the case the other day when we pulled up to the dump station.

There it stood facing us…a seeming gift from God. My son Sam (17) and I saw it and then looked at each other. I knew it was not right to take advantage of the free situation, but asked Sam, “So what do you think? Would it be alright to dump for free?” He smiled, like he was doubting my integrity.

I didn’t like that look and felt a little guilty at the same time. He was watching me…and seeing if I believe all that stuff I say I believe about doing what is right and pleasing to God. Actually, I was seeing if I believe it too.

“I’m going in to pay,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”

I passed the test. That time. But the tests come every day…and they’re always watching.

Here’s the deal, Dad. Your kids are watching you…when you drive above the speed limit, when you bend the rules, or fudge the truth for your benefit.

Don’t think for one minute that it’s not a big deal… because it’s a huge deal.

So, do the right thing regardless of whether they’re watching or not…even though they probably are.

You ‘da dad.
Todd