Duty to Delight

Fr. Gregory Boyle, SJ, founder of Homeboy Industries shares in his book “Tattoos on the Heart” his belief in a God who loves without measure and without regret. Fr. Greg sets the context that Homeboy Industries’ core endeavor seeks to imitate “the kind of God one ought to believe in.”

Nina and I visited Homeboy Industries, an organization that provides employment and supportive services to individuals desiring to leave gang life. As we walked up to the building in downtown Los Angeles, a casually dressed, clean-cut young man with tattoos on his face and neck approached and greeted us. His welcoming demeanor was immediately reassuring. We asked if he worked there and he wittingly replied that he was “homeland security”. He opened the door and motioned us in towards the front desk, where we were greeted with eye contact, warm smiles and an obvious desire to include us in what was going on there. These young men and women had not only learned customer service skills, they were ambassadors for a place they were clearly proud of and proud to be a part of. Everyone seemed to know the drill: Someone is here, embrace them, welcome them, connect them to where they need to be. Brian, one of the Homeboys, graciously provided us a tour of the facility. Homeboy Industries provides a long list of supportive services – job development, tattoo removal, counseling, legal aid, parenting workshops, computer classes, etc. But those critical and effective services don’t seem to be the “crux” of it. What does seem to be the key is the environment of respect, hospitality, acceptance, love, and dignity, and a funny feeling you are standing on holy ground. There is no formal registration process at Homeboy. No screening. You walk in and are surrounded informally with everything you need, even when you don’t know what you need or why you are there. Brian, perhaps without realizing, reminded us of some basic life truths. People are vulnerable. Everyone has a heart. We mess up sometimes. As he described his own past of family dynamics, gang involvement and his journey out, he said “I knew right from wrong, but I wasn’t used to it”. Brian shared: “…I would try here and there. I don’t even know what I came here for. I was on day two of being out [of jail] and I came because I wanted to get my tattoos removed…” Almost right away, Fr. Greg offered him a job. Brian is taking it one day at a time, and is clearly passionate about the new possibilities he understands and enjoys. He’ll keep working at Homeboy for now to continue to accomplish among other things, making his mother proud. I don't about Nina but I don't remember much detail after that.

Don’t get me wrong, Homeboy Industries is not Disneyland, although the immediate relief of apprehension and anxiety I felt when I entered the front door made me appreciate it as if it were. We’re all trained to put our best foot forward when touring or hosting guests. During our tour we picked up on body language, eye movement and very few words of Fr. Greg that instructed one of the Homeboys to check the status of a hooded young man who entered the lobby. “Find out if the climate has changed out there” was his casual instruction. Reality check: Homeboy Industries helps gang members. Under Fr. Greg’s leadership, they work to dispel the myth that one life could possibly be worth less than another. Homeboy Industries challenges their community to consider “What if we were to invest in gang members, rather than just seek to incarcerate our way out of this problem?”

We had the privilege of meeting Fr. Greg. We took only a few minutes of his time as most of the people waiting in the lobby were there to see him – to give him updates, see about a job, receive a blessing or simply delight in each other. We asked what piece of advice he might offer for our work and as if he’s been asked this question before, replied, well, “success isn’t all its cracked up to be”. If you are too focused on serving those who will be successful, you sure might miss a lot of opportunities to help people who most need help. Homeboy Industries is indeed successful. Please look them up.

The poet Mary Oliver writes “all things are inventions of holiness – some more rascally than others.” Homeboy Industries delights in rebuilding people. Then they help them learn job skills and stuff like that. I think their approach is one we can all take something from, no matter what our business is.

Thanks for reading, and blessings to you all.
Amy

(PS: some recommended reading: Tattoos on the Heart by Fr. Greg Boyle and The Duty of Delight: The Diaries of Dorothy Day by Robert Ellsberg)