The man that feeds the hungry and teaches us about forgiveness.
Imagine an artist whose talent with oil painting is delicate and purposeful. Now imagine this same person telling stories of a hurt childhood, of paying it forward, loving, and of beautiful people. Did you picture a former heavy weight boxer, appearing to having just stepped off a Harley? No? Me either. We are often told not to judge a book by its cover and in this case, once you open into the details, the book becomes perfect in its nuances and your lifetime favorite. Introducing Rob Murray with Harvest of Hope Pantry in Boulder, Colorado.
Harvest of Hope Pantry provides nutrient rich food to those countless people facing food insecurity. The pantry is a place of kindness, compassion, and hope. Before I tell you about Rob I want to talk about the true faces of the hungry. These are people of brilliance and potential. While visiting the Harvest of Hope I learned of a former aerospace engineer (yes, rocket scientist) that through a series of events found himself homeless and hungry. Or think of the family working everyday, earning minimum wage, with barely enough to scrape by. These are the faces of all of us. We aren’t separate.
As a baby, Rob was raised by nuns and later adopted by a loving mother. Rob emphasizes the path of his mother running parallel to his own. His kind eyes light up when he tells me that she too was an orphan raised by nuns. They then fill with tears when he refers to the loneliness he feels having lost her to brain cancer in 2003. Rob’s life hasn’t been easy. Yet, like many of us, it is his pain that opened his heart and found the power of gentle compassion. “Life has a way of putting you in the place you belong”, he told me. His belonging has been quite the journey. As a child he was a strong kid that stood up for those being bullied. As a college student, he joined a fraternity and counseled his fellow students to drink less and take care of themselves. In his 20’s Rob took a chance, packed a backpack, jumped on a train and moved to Boulder. Because assistance is all around if we are open and paying attention, Rob met a man on the train that offered his support and knowledge. The first day they explored together. The next day Rob had a job in his new Colorado home.
Rob believes that if we do good deeds they come back to us. To illustrate his point Rob tells me about giving his bus pass to a homeless person, leaving Rob in a situation to walk the 7 miles to work. Within minutes a cab pulled up, seemingly out of no where, and offered him a free ride!
While in college Rob had to use a food pantry for his meals. While there he vowed he would give back someday. He became a counselor and later was hired by the Harvest of Hope. He describes the importance of fruits and vegetables and healthy options, “The healthier we eat, the less we have to go to the doctor. Let’s offer proactive options for people to stay healthy”. A man of many talents, he is currently working on a book advising people how to live off the grid on less than $12,000.00 a year.
I feel the energy of Rob’s huge heart when he tells me about the little six-year-old girl that wanted food; not presents for her birthday. She brought her gifts to the pantry, with a smile of innocence and the childlike knowing of paying it forward. “It is so beautiful to see”, he said. I asked Rob to give us his thoughts on living a life of joy. His advice is simple and beautiful.
1) Forgive. Forgiveness isn’t about forgetting or excusing the other person. It is for you and the peace your life so richly deserves.
2) Reframe your past. For every hurt you remember, choose to remember something beautiful.
“If you help two people in a lifetime than you have a purpose”, Rob told me. “Always look for kindness in the world and then you will find kindness in yourself.” Amen, I say.
Dear LoveSelfers- What kind act can you do today? What beauty do you remember? Tell us. We love to tell the happy stories.
Rob is truly inspirational. He is wise beyond his years, kind hearted to a fault, compassionate and a hard- dedicated worker. He has a big heart and is just delightful to work with. I am delighted to see him get the recognition he deserves!