Is it wrong??

[ZiSunka]

My neighbor has a huge pile of fallen leaves out by the curb waiting for the city to come by and pick them up.

I covet those leaves for my garden (I compost).

I know she won't give them to me because she won't even speak to me, look at me or acknowledge my existence in any way.

Is it wrong to covet my neighbor's leaves?

All my other neighbors have given me their leaves, so it's not like I don't have enough.

 

[lared]

I think you should be more concerned with your relationship with your neighbor then with some dead leaves. What seems to be the problem? Can you attempt to reconcile? What have you done to go out of your way to be the best neighbor she could possibly have?

 

[ZiSunka]

The very frist time I ever met her, I invited her over for tea, and she refused, saying that I remind her of the woman who stole her husband 43 years ago.

Then, while she was away for 10 weeks last summer, her grass got to be over a foot high, so I went over and cut it, thinking I was doing something kind for her, but when she got home, another neighbor told her I did it and she yelled at me to keep off her property.

Then, someone hit her car while it was parked on the street and she blamed me. Even after the young teen driver confessed and paid for the damage, she still blamed me.

 

[Sharky]

Ahah! That's another big situation for you mate! This is exactly where you need to come in and show her that there's no need to hate anymore. She sounds lonely. A great time for you to show her your kindness. Change her life or something.

Oh the leaves, just at least help out on the leaves by sorta shoving it in the trash or something. Don't take them, that's stealing .

 

[ZiSunka]

I have been showing her kindness for seven years. She hates all the neighbors, not just me. She's clearly an unhappy person. The one neighbor that she talks to said that the woman would burn down all our houses and be left alone in the neighborhood if she could do it without getting in trouble. She is a Christian, according to her own confession of faith.

Thanks for the advice about the leaves, but we're not allowed to throw them in the trash. The garbage trucks won't take them. If we leave them out at the curb, the city comes by with a big vacuum cleaner and takes them away.

Is it stealing to take something that is a waste product and has been discarded and has no monetary value?

 

[Sky]

No, It's not stealing. Also, how can someone so mean and nasty be a Christian?

 

[ZiSunka]

Oh, I forgot to tell you, she called the police because she thought I was snooping on her. She told them that I would stand for hours watching her through the windows on the south end of my house. When the police investigated, they discovered that I was standing at my kitchen sink (which is right below those windows) cooking and doing dishes. She conscrued my standing at the window to be me spying on her. Clearly she's got a problem.

 

[ZiSunka]

Originally posted by Sky
No, It's not stealing. Also, how can someone so mean and nasty be a Christian?

I think she's mentally ill. One neighbor, now deceased, told me that the woman's never been the same since her husband left her. She's really bitter about the divorce that happened 40 years ago. That's what happens when you refuse to forgive and move on with life.

 

[ZiSunka]

Hey, I didn't start this thread to diss my neighbor, only to ask if it would be wrong to sneak over in the night and scoop her dead leaves out of the gutter to put them on my garden for compost.

 

[Raiel Corwin]

Originally posted by Sky
No, It's not stealing. Also, how can someone so mean and nasty be a Christian?

Ask Torquemada.  Mean and nasty people can belong to any religion whatsoever.

Regarding the leaves: You've said yourself that you've no shortage of leaves for yourself.  You should simply leave those leaves right where they are.  Better than starting a conflict.

And as for your neigbor, my advice is to simply leave her alone.  Pretend she doesn't exist.  That's what she wants, and you'll only upset her further by intruding where you're not wanted.  The world is a bad place with bad people in it.  It's easiest just to accept it and move on.

 

[ZiSunka]

I see her and pray for her and hope that she will let go of her hate and bitterness. I know God is hoping she will find a way to let go of it too, before it's too late. She's in her late 80's now.

I have accepted that she doesn't like me. Not everone has to like me.

 

[Raiel Corwin]

Then you've done all that you can.  It sounds like the road that this woman has to walk is the kind that must be walked alone.

And 80s or no, it's never too late to attain spiritual harmony.

 

[ZiSunka]

True. Which is why I keep praying for her.

Bitterness is a poison that will kill her, yet have no effect on her ex-husband or his young wife. She's punishing herselfby holding on to it. I hope she can come to an understanding of grace that will free her.

 

[fieldmouse3]

Sounds like she needs a lot of prayer. Also, I agree, don't just take the leaves. It IS stealing, even if it's just a pile of something that someone else throws away, if it doesn't belong to you.

 

[JohnR7]

>>Is it stealing to take something that is a waste product and has been discarded and has no monetary value?

You would have to ask the city about it. I really doubt if they would throw you in jail over it. I mean even if it is against the law, I doubt if they would inforce that law if you were to take her leaves. Of course you know it would get her mad at you. I would think the garbage laws are written more to keep people from going through garbage cans and making a mess.

As far as I know everything from the side walk out to the street is considered city property. If you think she would call the police and file a complaint over it, you could always find someone that works for the city to give you permission. Like someone with the leaf removal program or something. Thats should keep you in the clear.

When I was a kid I rode my go cart on the school property on weekends. My dad had gotten permission from the school superintendant. The police came along and tried to give me a hard time about it, but I already had permission from so there was not a lot they could do about it.

 

[Sky]

No.

 

[ZiSunka]

The leaves aren't in the garbage, and they aren't on her property. They're in the gutter on the street. We aren't allowed to put yard waste or leaves in our garbage.

I'm not going to take them. I was just asking if it is wrong to "steal" something that is going to be thrown away, doesn't belong to anyone, and has no monetary value.

 

[Gerry]

Perhaps you should go over and "lay hands on her", and pray for her!

 

[paulewog]

I think those leaves are considered her private property... kinda weird, but I think it is. Not sure though. I know that your garbage is considered private property...

Hm. The lady does rather sound in need of prayer....

 

[Gerry]

I see even the Fieldmouse agrees she needs prayer. But in person, I would definitely "lay hands on her."

I know this started as a serious thread, and I am sorry to inject humor here. But the reason I did that was because this reminds me so very much od the story of a former Boss of mind, who seemed to HATE me with absolutely no cause at all. I once wrote a story about how I turned this into a VERY close friendship. I called it "A Dollars Worth of Love." I still smile, even today, when I think of that.

I don't know what happened to the story, but I will rewrite it one day and post it here.