There is a small cupboard outside the church office. In it are cans of soup, boxes of pasta, cereal, and ingredients for a quick supper. The sign invites people to take what they need, as well as to donate for others. One stipulation, is that you not give food past its "sell by" date. 

 

While I was very entertained by a movie called Just Eat It in which a couple spent six months eating only expired food, and perfectly fine stuff they dove for from a dumpster, there is a place for not handing down meals that we would reject ourselves. I can relate. I remember times when my toddler offered the part of the sandwich they were not interested in. 

 

"Here, Mom," was the supposedly generous gift. 

 

There are times when I feel stuck with old information. A rude comment  someone made twenty years ago, or a gnarly interaction from another stage of life show up in my brain pretending to be current. 

 

What makes me think that is worth swallowing? If people held me accountable for every dumb thing I have belched in the past three decades I would be in the dumpster myself.