IRON ARM/ KIND HEART

By Peter Vuono

     Sometimes I have a problem with putting my priorities in place. You see, when I was a kid, the thing I craved more than anything else was physical strength; mainly because I didn't have it! I was a weakling in the truest sense and my heroes were those who inspired me to better myself physically. I couldn't read enough or see enough about Steeve Reeves, George Reeves or Bruno Sammartino.
    Finally, at age 15, I got a set of weights and trained for two years privately in my room, ashamed of anyone seeing how weak I was. I gravitated to the YMCA, to Bob Backus' Olympic Health Club and finally my own personal gym at home. I had moderate success in powerlifting and simply idolized anyone who was stronger than I. Then one day, in Easton, Ma., I heard a sermon by Father Lucio Filipino twenty five years ago.
   He talked about the foibles of the human spirit and mentioned that those things were only human weakness. He said that when we are called upon by our maker to account for ourselves, we'd be asked just one thing, "Who did you serve?" I then realized that it's not how much I deadlift, it's not how many touch downs, it's not how much money we earn or how many degrees we receive, it's "Who did I serve"!
   Here I am 25 years later and I know a man who constantly reminds me of this. His name is Jeff Ciavattone. Jeff is about 35 and stands 6'3". He weighs a solid 260 lbs.  I witnessed him doing a deadlift with two, thick handled dumbbells;  weighing  262 pounds EACH! Jeff has an iron arm and back all right but it's his character that brings me back to Father Lucio's sermon and keeps me grounded.
  Jeff is ALWAYS kind and never boastful, He is the epitome of humility. He is affable and gregarious and takes as much joy in everyone's success as he does in his own. He's the kind of guy that would always be there for a friend or stranger. Jeff works in Boston AND London. He takes trips across the pond to work in robotics as frequently as I go to the grocery store. However, I know for sure, that if I had an emergency, he'd fly back in a heart beat to help me or his loved ones.
  So when I see Jeff, I'm reminded of the oh, so important homily on what's important for the next time that I'm lead astray from the truth-"Who did you serve?" Some day, Jeff, like all of us, will be called upon to answer this question with what I think is an enormous resume. I can only hope to do the same.

" I feel if I can take a second to make someone happy, why not do it?" Bruce Lee