A moving day in an unexpected way

A few thoughts from Day No. 3 as deputy director at Muscatine Center for Social Action …

By the end of the day, I was moved into my new office, where the computer and everything works. This wouldn’t have happened if not for Tom Curry, the building coordinator at MCSA. You know you’ve got great new co-workers when one of them leaves at mid-afternoon for a doctor’s appointment, where he was diagnosed with bronchitis. But instead of getting a prescription filled and going home for the rest of the day, Tom came back and worked several hours until my office was set up.

In addition to wrestling with the computer and its spider web of cords and cables, we had to move a fair amount of somewhat-heavy office furniture out into the hall so the desk could be put where I wanted it. Of course, that meant some of the furniture then had to be moved back into the office.

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a big lug. If I’ve ever been really good at just one thing it might be picking up and carrying heavy objects. For as long as I can remember, I’ve often been the first person called when family or friends needed to move something. I’m joking a bit, but as a teenager, my dad often greeted me by saying, “Chris, pick that up and move it.”

All of this makes a little thing that happened Wednesday stand out.  In his job as building coordinator, Tom often works with some of the residents of the men’s shelter at MCSA. They help with cleaning and other chores — provide a little muscle when it’s needed.

Wednesday, a couple of them literally wouldn’t let me help move something heavy that I wanted moved. I can’t really remember when that has ever happened before.

I’m learning that some of my friends in Muscatine don’t know much about what happens at MCSA. And some Muscatine residents, if they even think of MCSA, may have a negative image. I want them to know about my experience Wednesday.

The residents at MCSA are people — the same as you or me. They make mistakes. They are capable of learning from their mistakes. They also are capable of doing good even if they sometimes don’t. They want to feel appreciated, liked, respected.

I don’t know how else to explain the sight of watching three men I had just met moving a credenza for me AND making sure I couldn’t help them.

Theirs is a story I’m going to help tell until it is known by everyone in Muscatine.