Brother Robb Wallace, FSC

Lifelong Learning features Brother Robb Wallace this month. Brother Robb is the Principal of St. Joseph Elementary School in Sunnyside, Washington.

You know, I didn't realize I liked community, until I no longer had it! Call me stupid or shallow, but for all my years as a Brother, I had taken community for granted. In 1998, I was assigned as principal to St. Joseph School in Sunnyside, Washington. To say that Sunnyside is 'nowhere' might be an exaggeration, but I know you can see nowhere from here. I was assigned to St. Joseph alone. No community. My first reaction was pleasure-no necessity to adapt to the wants and needs of others, the chance to live on my own, setting my own schedule without others imposing on me. I was fine for about a month. But, one day that first October, as I sat watching television and eating my Stouffer's pot pie dinner, I realized how pathetic I had become. Sure, I had set my own schedule, but there was no one to complain to about how lousy my day had been. Nobody to joke with about the absurdities of the educational world.

Certainly, I had no one imposing on me-but also no one to inspire me with his life, no one whose shortcomings brought out my strengths, no one whose needs inspired me to live the Gospel more closely. Yes, I could set my own schedule, but my time alone confirmed that my choices about how to spend my time alone weren't always the best. Television with dinner? Not an inspired choice. Thankfully, our Provincial assigned two Brothers to live with me at St. Joe's this school year. I am grateful for them individually, and grateful for what we have become-a community, with all the struggle and steam that go with a community-but with the shared vision and the shared ideals that give focus and direction to a Brother's life. Do I miss my four walls and my Stouffer's pot pies? Maybe just a little in my worst moments, but at my best, I thank a loving God for the chance to share my life with my Brothers, and the chance to do what we Brothers do when we are our most authentic-share a mission to bring the good news to the poor.