It's a dirty job but somebody aught to do it.

Today I had one of the world's most smelly jobs. It was removing stagnant trash from a flooded basement. I had done work before sort of under the same circumstance...a widowed woman with limited ability has a flood in the basement. She is alone and relies on others for help. This time the word came to me from a Church group. I volunteered to help. It was a strenuous job with a stench quite its own.

As I cleaned, pushed standing water to a drain, bleached and scrubbed the mold and mildew off the floor I was reminded of all the menial labor I endured that had nothing to do with Spiritual Direction or Pastoral Counseling. Suddenly there was a sense of reason behind it all. And I was fine with that.

There is a story that St. Anthony of Padua wanted to be better known for his dish washing than his theology. I could relate. She ended up paying me for the work and I never felt a more precious wage.

This is the ideal behind Brother's Keeper Ministries. Serve when you can, whoever you can, however you can.

Be blessed.

Bro Joe