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HeroicStories #764: Brother Ed
Reaching more than 41,500 subscribers in 118 countries, this is...
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HeroicStories #764: 19 February 2009 www.HeroicStories.com
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Brother Ed Story Editor:
Jayleen L. Hatmaker Joyce Schowalter
Ohio, USA
In August 1980 an ugly scene brought my 13-year marriage to an end. I
fled our home with my two children, $5 and nowhere to go except my
mother's. Staying there more than a couple nights wasn't an option.
The next morning I headed out to find help. The welfare office referred
me to an emergency agency that found a small apartment. It was dismal
and in a rough area, but I had to make the most of it. A woman there
wrote down an address and said to go tell "Brother Ed" she'd sent me.
The address was a nondescript warehouse near a Catholic school. Inside,
floor to ceiling held everything imaginable from furniture to clothing.
A short, unassuming, thin Caucasian man approached, introduced himself
as Brother Ed and asked how he could help.
Scared to death about the future, I told him who sent me.
Brother Ed led me through the packed maze to a clearing, his "office".
He sat me down, offered a soda, and his lunch! He softly asked me to
tell my story. He listened as it poured out... years of abuse, the fix
we were in. He nodded, concerned, asked few questions, and accepted my
tears. He offered neither sympathy, nor disapproval. When I felt too
wrung out to speak, he went to work.
We toured the place as he anticipated our needs, referring to himself in
third person, as "Brother Ed". He selected twin beds for my children, a
sofa bed for me, sheets, blankets, clothing, towels, washcloths, small
kitchen appliances, cooking utensils, everything we'd need -- including
ironing board and iron!
With each step I felt more dumbfounded. Was I expected to pay? Nothing
was new, but it represented a small fortune to me. I couldn't believe he
was GIVING this stuff to us! Within minutes, a huge pile was gathered
near the doors, and Brother Ed explained the furniture would be ready
that afternoon.
With his next question my heart sank, "Do you have a way to move
everything?" As my mind whirled, he said, "You can use Brother Ed's
van." I should return at 5 p.m. with helpers, load the van, move
everything, then return the van. All matter-of-fact, as if he'd known me
his entire life.
Overwhelmed, I couldn't believe that he seriously would allow total
strangers to disappear with his personal vehicle, possibly never to be
heard from again! But that's exactly what happened. I did, of course,
return Brother Ed's van along with my eternal gratitude.
I later learned Brother Ed was a local Jesuit. The warehouse stored
donations for the order's second-hand store. Though his vocation was
helping others, I will ever remain indebted to Brother Ed.
I do what I can to pay it forward. I've never forgotten his
selflessness, and am still deeply touched and grateful, and can only
guess how many lives he has touched. I truly believe Brother Ed saved me
and my children. I know he saved my spirit.
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This issue was made possible by HeroicStories' Readers.
You can help too:
http://www.HeroicStories.com/fund.html
Thank You, from all the HeroicStories Staff and Volunteers!
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In our last story, "Restored to Health" (#763) Ruth Edwards described an
Air Force dentist who treated a young girl's damaged teeth, on his own
time, in 22 separate sessions.
Teresa in Wisconsin (HeroicStories author) asks: "Does the Air Force
train particularly compassionate dentists? I always dreaded going to the
dentist, because the procedures were always excruciating, and the
dentists, who knew that I had had Novocain, were unsympathetic to my
pain. When I went into the Air Force and saw my first dentist there, she
actually tested after I had been given Novocain to see if I was
sufficiently numb. I wasn't. That's when I learned that some people
(myself included) are resistant to Novocain and need a higher than
normal dose. That one simple check changed a lifetime of agonizing
dentist visits for me. Go, Air Force!"
Mary Ann in South Carolina writes: "I love the story about the military
dentist helping the girl with bad teeth in 1951. A true hero!"
June from Florida sent a comment on "Phone Home" (#762), which
complimented a young girl for returning the author's cell phone. (You
may view that story on our archives:
http://www.HeroicStories.com/archives.html .) June writes: "What
wonderful role models this girl must have in her life. Now we get to
benefit from their teaching, too. This is also another good example of
why local authorities are urging cell phone users to add "ICE" (In case
of emergency) listings in their phone's address book."
Good point, June. I also have labels with my name and contact
information inside my phone. One is inside the carrying pouch, the other
inside the phone where the battery removes. I've returned a couple cell
phones before, and finding the person who owned them required random
calls from their address book. HeroicStories would indicate that *most*
people who find a phone would return it -- why not make it easier?
Sheldon in Mexico (former HS author) adds: "As I see it, HeroicStories
is about people making the world a better place, through their treatment
of others. I don't care if someone's writing about their own actions or
someone else's. 'Self-hero' stories I've read here seem to describe more
of an epiphany for the writer. Many people, sadly, don't know the joy of
helping someone just because they can. Having done that on occasion, I
know I felt much better for it -- and I help others more often since
reading Heroic Stories. Isn't the HeroicStories' idea that each of us
will be inspired to emulate this sort of behavior? That's how we make
the world a better place. Anyone who's had the privilege to be on the
receiving end of a random act of kindness knows how much better that act
made our world."
Last issue we started a new (occasional) feature, the "DELIGHTFULLY
HEROIC NEWS STORY". For years we've received tips from readers to
inspiring news stories, and decided to pass a few along. Debbie in
Indiana reacts: "Heroic Stories is my favorite email and I forward them
all the time to students trying to get them to subscribe! I loved the
new feature -- if readers have the time to check it out, they can, but
it doesn't detract for those who don't have the time. Great addition!"
(The link is in our last issue.)
Suzanne from Michigan: "I loved the story with Frankie the Duck, who
went to work every day with Joe in his Flat-bed Truck. What a wonderful
story."
David in Canada: "The Trucker Duck story is a hoot...I mean a quack!"
Kate in Arizona makes a good point: "The concept is GREAT, I'm delighted
to see it, but can I ask a favor? Please include a warning note when the
link leads to a video rather than a print news item. Some of us, alas,
are still condemned to get online via slow dial-up connections, which
can make a sixty-second video take over half an hour to load." Thanks,
Kate.
Lore in Florida sent a nice compliment: "I just love the way
HeroicStories perks me up, even when depressed. Thank you."
Joyce Schowalter, Publisher
Co-Conspirators to Make the World a Better Place
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last updated: May 2005