" that doesn't make me morally superior to them"

sometimes it takes a little work for me to find the inspiration to make this worth reading.
but life is one big inspiration, everyday something catches my eye and makes me smile a little bigger, think a little harder, and dream a little more.
today it was Father Boyle- he's from LA, he started Homeboy Industries which has turned into be the biggest gang prevention organization in the U.S. if not the world. They give gang members jobs, counseling, tattoo removal and help them become ex gang members and get on with their lives. He was the speaker at Jesse's LMU graduation, and even though I was young I remember thinking he was great.
He was here and spoke today, all about kinship and compassion. And it was inspiring. He is amazing, he's done so much and he is still such a normal, human being like guy, who laughs at silly jokes and cusses in mass and calls the guys he works with homies. He is so aware of their life and his place in it, even if they are totally different.  And he has such faith in these guys who he explains to have such big hearts, guys who were once shooting bullets at each other now working side by side, laughing, talking, getting along, like friends.  He explained that shouldn't be surprising- its hard for humans to not get along when they are stuck right next to each other working together and in their case working for a very similar thing, and even harder to not talk as many claim they wont in the beginning. He tells stories of his ex gang members coming to realize their ability, the life they can create, their moments of being so compassionate and caring that it blows your mind. He gives you goosebumps and makes you laugh and cry and inspires you to be better. But of everything he said my favorite was his explanation of the differences and the disconnect, that he has completely removed. He explained "I've never been in a gang, I grew up not even knowing they existed and wouldn't have been able to find one if you sent me on a scavenger hunt, there is no denying I would have never been in a game, but that doesnt make me morally superior to them" he went on to explain that he can never understand the burdens they have held on their shoulders, the desire they have to be better and reiterated the fact that he is nor morally superior to anyone. I feel like if everyone could understand that the world would be better...no more us and them, no more other, just all of us, together, figuring it out.  There was so much more, it was all so great. But I just really loved that part. I think thats our problem, no one is better, we are all just incredibly and wonderfully different.


Then I went to homesafe, a shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence where I go once a week and play with the kiddos for a a couple hours. And tonight I was watching one of the older boys with his two younger brothers. He was probably 12 they were maybe 2 and 4 and he was just so in touch with them, totally watching out for them and taking care of them, and they listened to him perfectly. It was so cool to see, crazy how much responsibility Im sure he has, but just so obvious that he is the man of the house, and he does it and loves it and loves those little brothers so much.  You see that a lot in there, the siblings totally just watch out for each other and its really great. Makes my heart happy.


Thanks life for showing me so much, teaching me show much, letting me see things and take them in and think about them and make something of them. :)