So I’m hanging out the window, one hand gripping the window frame, the other grasping tightly to the edge of our only air conditioning unit – the one that just fell out the window. Rivers of sweat pour down my face, dripping from my chin and evaporating in the sticky hot velvet air.
A guest at our family shelter offers assistance: “Give me your hand.” Like Indiana Jones reaching for the Holy Grail in the final scenes of “The Last Crusade”, I consider my choice: air conditioning in the 100+ degree weather, or the safety of the of the second story bedroom floor in the Guesthouse. Luckily I am no Indiana Jones, and my feet are firmly planted on the roof of the front porch.
Welcome back to the Catholic Worker, I think to myself. In the end, we managed to get the air conditioner back inside, but too late. The fan had broken upon impact on the porch roof.
Meta and I are now moved back into the House of Hospitality. The house is still a wreck, though the responsibility for this no longer falls on previous residents. The walls have been painted, the wood floors stripped and refinished, the electrical outlets and light switches are all in working order, and the toilets flush without leaking. The house is ready to shine – it just needs us to unpack all our boxes, put away our things, and give the place a good cleaning.
There are still a great number of repairs to be made, however. The roof and supports over the back porch are rotted and need replacing, along with the stairs leading up to the apartment over the detached garage and a good deal of the siding on the House of Hospitality. The back porch at the Guesthouse is rotting through, and the repair list for the Guesthouse must be nearly as long as the Plowshares‘ collective rap sheet. We’ve just started on the application for rehab funds from the City of Olympia, and should soon have the money to being making the repairs.
We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support since our big community meeting in June. Scores of volunteers have stepped forward to help restore our buildings, donations have grown, and (!!!) the Tides Foundation sent us an unsolicited grant of $10,000 to support our general budget. This is the first August that I can recall in which Bread & Roses has not been out of money.
Our guests are doing very well. A young mother and her daughter moved into their own place in July, and a second young family is preparing to move to a new apartment within the next couple weeks. We are starting to plan out our community meals, and the guests are showing signs of anticipation – offering to help cook, hinting about the “best” family recipe, planning their schedules around the meals, etc.
I am so very thankful for their patience. In the midst of all the chaos lately, the guests have had a difficult time getting their needs met from us. The plumbing seems always to be springing leaks, the toilet paper runs out, food runs short, there are boxes and furniture and piles of random things in the yard, and yet the guests show the kind of cheerful perseverance that can really only be found among people who have survived real poverty. [Note: Most of these issues are now being addressed as we are starting to settle in.]
I’ve never really understood the Catholic Worker commitment to voluntary poverty, and have always said that “simplicity” seems good enough for me. But our guests remind me of the value in poverty: hardship makes good people into great people. And the point of all this is not merely to house and feed people in need, but rather to make ourselves into better people, to create a world in which it is “easier for people to be good”. I fear sometimes that I would lack the courage and the character to be as great as our guests if I were to face their same adversity. I am like the rich man who could not answer Christ’s call to give up all he had and follow God.
Enough navel gazing for the morning. The day is ripening, the sun is shining, our cat is out chasing the squirrels, and I’ve got to get to work. As things settle in, we’ll be blogging more often. Please stay tuned!
Phil, Meta, the Board and volunteers, I am awed by your level of dedication and good works. In response to Phil's blog , you all are 'great' people. The 'riches' we all have are brought to us by dedicated people like yourselves. May a wealth of blessings fall upon all of you.
Thanks Donna!
But did you know, btw, that the word “bless” has its origin in a word meaning “to bleed” or “to mark with blood”?
Well then a wealth of good stuff fall 'gently' on you.
In 1982-84 I was honored to a part of the house on 8th street extended family. I cooked soup weekly went to marchs and trails with staff … and even stayed a a special guest one week in the then new front room (I had lost my house and needed some help. When graduated from TESC (in my late 30’s) summer of 1884 we coniuted to help when we were able ovr the years. Life got busy and 20 years have gone by. My husband and our girl use to work at th down town dinner hall with UC folks monthly … and I send clothes over now and then. Bee a state worker since 88 – ws layed off in 96 – gotback on after 9 month … been at with state now over 20 years … but in July lossing 1/2 the job, at 64 we are worried … working to “save the farm” . I often am greatful for all we have and pray for the homeless all over the world. D.Day would be so pleased. Love you all.