The kind man

Friendship, trust and gratitude every time I meet Mauro

Every fortnight I go shopping in a magical place.

La Monda in Arcisate, in the province of Varese, was born as a reception center for children with cognitive disabilities and uses biodynamic agriculture as the main activity for its guests. This beautiful practice has contributed to the exponential growth of these "special farmers" by making them acquire knowledge, independence but above all dignity.

Mauro works in the small internal shop, in a sort of boutique of products from their fields, and with skill and kindness he takes care of offering and selling them, without ever forgetting some useful advice on how to cook them best. Every income from the shop serves to finance part of the management of the entire Centre, and this is why when you leave there with paper bags full of vegetables, fruit or any other product packaged but carefully selected for its quality, the feeling is that of having contributed a little to the well-being of these kids.

Mauro is around fifty years old and until recently he did something completely different. Then, perhaps disappointed or perhaps looking for a different well-being, he gave up everything and decided to take care of the little corner of paradise inside La Monda full time. He loves nature, cycling in the nearby mountains, long chats, and kindness. He is a special man, and not for something extraordinary that he has managed to achieve, it is for his simplicity, the love that he gives, and the passion with which he has decided to live.

I have known him for a long time, and every time we meet I feel a sense of friendship, trust, but also gratitude.

Last week Mauro welcomed me into the shop with his usual kindness and his usual smile, precious business cards that we should learn to collect, and after the ritual greetings full of hugs and personal stories, the precious salesman surprised me.

«Max, I wanted to call you because I need your opinion».

I underline, he didn't say "advice" or "suggestion", he said opinion. So, very curious, I asked what I should express that opinion on. «You must know that…» – the sentence came out after a long breath, as if he wanted to energize himself before speaking – «… I have never been so close to faith. But lately I feel the desire to pray! What do you think about it?".

I would like to try to make you imagine what I felt. Initially I felt my chest open, as if that faith so unknown to him exploded in me to remind me that he was there to support me; then emotion flooded my eyes, but I pretended it wasn't connected to his sentence; finally I would have liked to hug him again but at that moment the distance between us, he was bagging some courgettes at the vegetable stand and I was selecting some goat's cheeses in the fridge, didn't let me.

It is not important what we said to each other in the following hour, in which we exchanged opinions, thoughts, experiences and perhaps even some historical inaccuracies, it is essential to understand instead why I felt like telling him that he was already an excellent Christian, he just had to recognize it and explore why.

Mauro had already decided to do so and had started to read some sacred texts, even if perhaps he had mistakenly started with too difficult volumes as a starting point, but the important thing was that he was able to say yes to that call with the awareness that to define oneself as a believer it is not necessary having a CV with the list of texts read, or being aware of all the theory, nor is it sufficient to go to mass every Sunday. For Christians, only facts count. Our every action must speak of God, maintaining concreteness, truth, sincerity, sometimes even if some choices are uncomfortable or difficult to accept because they are not convenient. Our actions must always be a gift for others.

This is why I believe that Mauro is more Christian than many others. Once upon a time they were called Pharisees, today my old friend Don Silvano calls them Domenichini, but the substance does not change. A Christian must be recognized by his eyes.

Mauro smiles, is kind to everyone, embraces his disabled friends with love, accompanies them on their journey towards dignity, he chose a job that nourishes the soul rather than chasing a salary that risked crushing it.

He is already a Christian. Because he loves, always, without distinction.

Max Laudadio

NP Agosto-Settembre 2023