What Is Your Sawdust

By Darlene Gray

The people of most societies are made up of the wealthy, the middle class and the poor. How each of these groups are defined tends to be determined by country or region being assessed. The wealthy and middle class are frequently depended on to care for the poor, doing their best to provide the necessities of life. Often this is done by donating money, food, clothing etc to the poor and homeless asking nothing in return.  

For some here in Canada this have developed a me mentality and at times an unwillingness to work. But with each handout many people have a lower and lower respect for themselves leading them to even worse behavior and greater dependence. I believe ever greater dependence on government for social services, abandonment of personal and familial responsibilities and loss of respect for authorities have greatly contributed to the financial and social crises we face. For some homelessness, drug abuse, crime, suicide and more are the side effects of the way in which help is offered to them. 

Could it be that for some it may be far more beneficial to help them use or develop their skills, giving them opportunity to be successful, rebuilding their self-esteem? The big question is how? 

One possible way is by applying the sawdust principle on individual, charity, corporate, and government levels. The sawdust principle suggests that as businesses and other organizations we make the most of everything that we use. Finding ways to use the scrap materials, unused intellectual property, wasted advertising space and more. 

First As believers we have a responsibility for the widows and orphans, sharing what we have with fellow believers in need. There is a second aspect to this mandate as found in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, ‘if one does not work they neither should they eat’. (1)(see below for a full contest of this passage).

I’d like to loosely share a story I once heard This sawmill owner went back to work and began asking himself how he could help the poor work and earn a living, he then saw that the sawdust was being swept up at the end of the day and in general trashed. Yet there were many things that could be done with this sawdust. He found other businesses that were using this by-product, discovered they were struggling getting the product they needed and would be willing to purchase the products from individuals and or collectives. So he took the steps to ensure the option to sell sawdust was set up. (2. For more info check out the link below)

He then arranged for the plant to be opened after the plant shut down to invite the unemployed to come in and clean up the shop with the sawdust being their pay. (Somewhat like the gleaners’ principle in the story of Ruth and Boaz). It worked great. The sawmill owner had his shop cleaned up, the other manufacturers had enough sawdust and the poor had a source of income and a greater self esteem.

Another person hearing the story owned a coffee shop. He found a way to apply this principle. He asked one fellow that used to come in to get a free coffee if he would be willing to sweep the floors and other small cleanup jobs in exchange for coffee and food. This worked very well for both people. Several customers saw this happening and found ways to try the same thing in their business with levels of success.

On a local basis I recall that at one time a worker from Redi Enterprises used to bring down a client to clean the nursery toys on a Tuesday. It gave the client a sense of value and clean toys for the children to play with. At times businesses will hire a person often challenged to do some of the simpler, highly repetitive jobs for an hourly wage. This frees up the higher paid staff from these tasks so they are able to be more productive in other areas.  

Another way in which this was practiced is at one time the government would subsidize primarily charitable organizations to hire willing individuals who were accessing social service funding with the goal of helping these individuals develop skills, confidence and experience so that they could get jobs. Iin many cases abilities were reawakened, new skills learned, and a much greater confidence gained. I personally witnessed several individuals’ self-esteem grow so much so that they were able to gain gainful employment. I believe this was a good use of tax dollars.

The question I have is: what is our waste? What if we took time to explore our ‘sawdust’ and rather than use it to increase our personal income we use those areas to help people earn goods/services or even some income as individual families. Is there anything that can be done to help those who are in need? Is there a way that this waste could be turned into cash for someone? I challenge us all to take a few minutes to go through your work day and see if there is something you could offer to an underemployed person take steps toward financial independence.

1. Thessalonians 3:10 Context
7For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

2. Introducing the Sawdust Principle: How to Use your Business Byproducts to Create new Growth Opportunities | by Pete Sena | Medium