I love me A Homeboy

If you’ve not yet heard of Homeboy Industries, please go make your day and check them out. Some years ago, long, long, before I grew into the person I am now, I was scrolling through Amazon (I know, you don’t have to say it) looking for something inspiring to read. That was my only prerequisite and it’s in no way a coincidence that out of every book I peeped, Tattoos on the Heart by Gregrory Boyle (Father G) that captured me and is now a strong point of inspiration.

Now if you decide to read this, be ready to be torn apart and spurred into action. I won’t give away too much of the book because it’s an experience, but I do want to amplify the value I got from it.

Transformative love and relationships require you to meet people exactly where they are with an invitation, not an ultimatum to grow for their own benefit, not mine. One portion of the book in particular talked about how audiences were often disappointed about hearing stories of people who didn’t have the climatic life makeover; or even worse, they did have the makeover, but their past caught up to them before they could really enjoy it. Those stories don’t feel good, they hurt… a lot, but if we’re always looking for the success stories, we’re (often unknowingly) blind to the people who we assume won’t be one.

Success stories are the ones you get to tell, not what you get to tell.