Coping in a Gentle and Grateful Way

Today I was driving Scott, one of our guests who has a mental illness, to the warehouse for food and clothing. We passed a church sign that said something like: “All Glory and Honor to God.” I read it out loud as we passed it, and Scott said. “Yes, God is always on time, no matter what we do.” His behavior is often bizarre to the observer, but he carries a deep wound in the death of his son, which he will talk about on a rare occasion as he wells up in tears. The depth of spirituality that lies in the hearts of people who are torn by the scars of life never ceases to amaze me. It humbles me to be in their presence. Scott has found a way to cope in a gentle and grateful way, even as he deals with his mental illness.

Author: Br. Bob Malloy
Capuchin Soup Kitchen Pastoral Director