Etienna arrived at work Monday morning to find a puzzling scene: a quilt and two pink pillows lying messily on the parlor couch and various containers of food from the staff refrigerator stacked empty on the little center table. As she moved to investigate further, she found a pushed-in screen and ladder left lying about, and she realized what had happened. Someone had broken in to find a little food and a place to sleep. Nothing else had been taken or disturbed.
Laudably, her first reaction was: “…give him your coat also.” (Matthew 5:40) Following her instinct that our mission applies even (or especially) when “wronged,” we have taken steps to familiarize ourselves more deeply with community resources. The idea of providing a “little free pantry” near the road has come up, but nothing is final.
Her next response was to notify Dianne and me and, as a staff person with safety and stewardship of the campus in mind, to call the police. Officer Swan’s attitude of concern for the person seeking food and shelter felt humane, enhancing—not replacing—his role in figuring out who may have done this and how to prevent future break-ins. Both ideas are important.
After the incident report was completed, our treasured administrator along with our fantastic Day School Director, Julia, cleaned up the scene and went back to work. Bravo, Etienna and Julia! We are lucky to have you in those roles.
This event inspired movement on a project I have long wanted to initiate: the formation of a Safety and Security Protocol team. They would research and compose plans for various scenarios, such as disaster preparedness, safe evacuation, and securing the property—which itself is complicated when there is such a wide variety of users. If this is up your alley, please notify a warden or the office of your interest.
Let us take Jesus’s words from this Sunday’s Gospel reading to heart, “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:13-14
Faithfully submitted,
Barbara Bolles
Senior Warden