Brother Ron Fender BSG

This is a letter written by "our monk" Brother Ron Fender BSG (brotherhood of St. Gregory.) I post this on the Internet because it is so true, my co-workers are incredible. I have never worked at a workplace before where they actively shun gossip. I am most blessed.

"TO MY CO-WORKERS-
This morning, as I sat in our staff meeting, I looked at the faces of my co-workers gathered around the table. We are, in all honesty, an eclectic rag-a-muffin bunch of people. We get tired and frazzled and sometimes, truly overwhelmed. We see things that most people pray never to see. We deal with things that most people choose to ignore. We try our best everyday to love the unlovable and to bring hope to the hopeless. Not everyone has the capacity to do this work and I believe we recognize a kindred fire in one another. I further believe that this is the Light of Christ. I see a bumper sticker around town that says: Reality Bites. I take this to mean that reality is very un-cool, man. I second that emotion. We live in some really crazy times and there are people bleeding and dying every day. The globe is warming, the war is raging and the homeless...well, don't get me started. But, as the summer bears down on us, and reality rears its ugly, sunburned head, I find comfort in the amazing people who come here day after day, each one committed to doing whatever they can to make someone's life a little better. The staff members here at the Community Kitchen will never be famous, or wealthy. But, when I come to work every day, I am in the blessed company of saints. Why do I call them saints? Because they are cheerful when it would be easier to be miserable, patient when they want to scream, and they come here everyday when it would be so much more pleasant somewhere, anywhere else. Our reality is hard, but it does not bite."

I really love my job, despite, or perhaps because of how hard it is. Please be praying as I prepare to move that God would raise up the perfect job for me. Please pray for the transition, for my co-workers, for a replacement and for all the small things to make leaving easier. These people have made more of an impact on me than they could ever know, they have changed my life. They are now my family, I love them.