The Book I Always Recommend for Urban Business as Mission
Indeed,
these themes are fundamental to any faith venture business as ministry
and are a good primer for anyone considering such an activity.
In particular, I loved how he understands Homeboy to be a place that absolutely needs God to show up in order to be successful. He tells how depending on God for resources became an exercise of faith. "We constantly lived in the paradox of precariousness. The money was never there when you needed it, and it was always on time." (Tattoos on the Heart, p. 5)
He
understands Homeboy Industries to be all about God. It is not good
business in the traditional sense. He writes, "Not much in my life makes
sense outside of God. Certainly, a place like Homeboy Industries is all
folly and bad business unless the core of the endeavor seeks to imitate
the kind of God one ought to believe in. In the end, I am helpless to
explain why anyone would accompany those on the margins were it not for
some anchored belief that the Ground of all Being thought this was a
good idea." (Tattoos on the Heart, p 21)
Further,
I enjoyed Father Greg's assertion that faith venture work is a slow
journey. As Americans, we are culturally addicted to the idea of fast
results. He gently reminds that God shows up but we must learn to trust
in his slow approach.
"Fortunately,
none of us can save anybody," he notes. "But we all find ourselves in
this dark, windowless room, fumbling for grace and flashlights. You aim
the light this time, and I'll do it next. The slow work of God. And you
hope, and you wait, for the light--this astonishing light." (Tattoos on the Heart, p 128)
And
sometimes God's activity becomes difficult to see. Indeed, the very
nature of success becomes hard to measure in a faith venture. "People
want me to tell them success stories. I understand this. They are the
stories you want to tell, after all. So why does my scalp tighten
whenever I am asked this? Surely, part of it comes from my being utterly
convinced I am a fraud." (Tattoos on the Heart, p. 167)
He continues:
Twenty years of this work has taught me that God has greater comfort with inverting categories than I do. What is success and what is failure? What is good and what is bad? Setback or progress? Great stock these days, especially in nonprofits (and who can blame them), is placed in evidence-based outcomes. People, funders in particular, want to know if what you do "works." Are you in the end successful? Naturally, I find myself heartened by Mother Theresa's take: 'We are not called to be successful, but faithful'...For once you choose to hang out with folks who carry more burden than they can bear, all bets seem to be off. Salivating for success keeps you from being faithful, keeps you from truly seeing whoever's sitting in front of you. Embracing a strategy and and an approach you can believe in is sometimes the best you can do on any given day. If you surrender your need for results and outcomes, success becomes God's business. I find it hard enough to just be faithful. (Tattoos on the Heart, 167-168)
I
could go on and on with Boyle fantastic insights on the unique nature
of employing individuals rebuilding lives. But you really need to get
this book for yourself. Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion
reflects Boyle's unique talent at telling the stories of the community he serves.
A
few years ago, I presented at a Social Enterprise Alliance conference
following a talk by Father Greg. He is one of the best and most engaging
speakers ever. If you ever get a chance to attend one of his talks,
make it a priority. In the meantime, grab the book and enjoy this
picture of a unique community of love.
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