People

I just now walked into my home, (left at 6:45 a.m.) sat down at my computer and am going to try and share with you what took place at this morning’s National Day of Prayer Breakfast here in the South Bay of Southern California.

Hundreds of good people gathered together in love and fellowship with one another, to pray, salute our Nations flag, sing praises to God and Country, and to be inspired by great people who are continually striving to make this world a better place.

Some moments in life are transforming and this morning certainly was one of those moments. The main speaker was Father Gregory Boyle – an American Jesuit priest – Founder and Executive Director of Homeboy Industries.

Homeboy Industries was born in 1988 and is now the largest gang intervention, rehab and re-entry program in the United States. Homeboy (“Homie” a term used by gang members) was born out of an effort to address escalating gang problems in the Los Angles area and the unmet needs of gang-involved youth.

Father Boyle’s vision and unrelenting efforts – along with the Church Base Communities of the Dolores Mission, (located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles) – established an elementary school, a day care program, and a program for finding legitimate employment for young people struggling with gang involvement and drugs.

In 1992, as a response to increased gang activity and violence in Los Angeles, “Father Greg” launched the first business – Homeboy Bakery – to try and take gang members off of the streets and place them in an environment that provided training, work experience, and above all, the opportunity for rival gang members to work side by side.

The success of the Bakery created opportunities for additional businesses which have resulted in many independent non-profit organizations i.e. Homeboy silkscreen, Homeboy/Homegirl Merchandise, Homeboy Diner, Homeboy Farmers Markets – just to name a few.

All of this is very impressive, but what really reached in and grabbed my soul – and everyone else in the room – was the spirit and humility of this good man.

He fed us with inspiring thoughts like ” We need to stand in awe of how troubled people carry their burdens, and not in judgment of what they are carrying.”

“God’s desire is to reach deep into our souls and dismantle the pain, hate and anger …and return each of us to our better selves.”

“We shouldn’t be praying for God to change things but that we will change things.”

And one of my favorites – his philosophy behind all that he does – “It is impossible for human beings to demonize those we truly know.”

“Homeboy” is not without problems. Father Boyle has buried 187 gang youth over the last 25 years, and is scheduled for another funeral this week.

But even as he emotionally spoke of the pain in such loss, he told of two gang members that began their job at Homeboy Bakery as dangerous rivals; and one of the boys being nearly beaten to death by another rival gang after leaving the Bakery one day.

When Father Boyle informed this dying young man’s “once enemy” co-worker of what had happened, the boy, with great emotion in his voice, asked, “Is there anything I can do. Can I give him my blood?”   Proof of what Father Greg so fervently believes -“It is impossible for human beings to demonize those we truly know.”

I felt so grateful to have been in that Banquet Hall this morning, sitting side by side with all of those good people. It revived my hope and faith in this great Country and all of the good people who live here.

It inspired me to want to be better, try harder, and to never give up on anything that can make a righteous difference in life.

What a great way to start the day!

Endnote –

Father Gregory Boyle is the author of the New York Times Bestselling book, “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion.”