Volunteers , continued from page 11 rehabilitation support center in the Boston area , and when describing his job speaks of the importance of allowing people to share their stories and be listened to . Sitting there with my jaw wide open , I wished Felipe knew that his story is also worth listening to .
Earlier this week , up on the scaffold with Felipe installing siding on the gable wall of his future home , I decided to ask some simple questions to get to know him a bit better .
I asked him jokingly , “ So , do you have any hobbies that you used to enjoy before having kids ?” Felipe responded , “ Can I be completely honest with you ?” “ Sure !” I said . “ Well , my hobby has been preparing my family for where we are today ,” Felipe stated .
Every minute that he has , Felipe is working at his job , and on-site with Habitat , to obtain a better life for his family . Before Habitat , every waking moment Felipe had outside of work he spent trying to learn about the daunting world of home ownership and financial responsibility . Felipe uses his time , effort and gifts for the benefit of his family ; most days he doesn ’ t even eat lunch , so that his children can . Being connected to Habitat for Humanity is like a dream come true for Felipe and his wife . When they complete their hours , they will be the first members of their families to own a home .
The sense of urgency and attentiveness Felipe embodies as he puts the futures of his wife and daughters above his own is the type of preparation God has in mind for Advent . Christ is coming into the world as a human being , prepare ! Each day God is coming to you in human form , will you be prepared ? Will you give your best self no matter who is sent and what the circumstance ? Felipe ’ s desire to give and serve his family is lived out each day as he works towards the goal of home ownership and a better future for his two daughters . The same goes for us that each day we are called to endlessly pursue a deeper relationship with God to better adjust our vision to Jesus ’ vision and humbly expose our wounds and flaws in hopes of being held and healed by our loving God .
Just as Felipe gives of his life daily for his wife and daughters , we come to find that this journey is not about us , but instead the bringing about of God ’ s glory in the world . As you reflect this Advent , know that now is the time to prepare yourself and respond to God ’ s call for you to humbly carry the message out into the world . W
PBMR , continued from page 10 order — often to come to the Precious Blood Center . At his last court date , after a month or more in the detention center , he was placed in a secure group home .
However , the underlying issues that cause his violation are not criminal , but family . His family is overwhelmed and stressed beyond their means . The family home is not a suitable place ; it does not provide for the needs of this young man . It would be easy to merely blame the family for not living up to their responsibilities — and there is some truth to that — or a system that does not care — also some truth — but the real issue is the lack of societal support and services . As a community and society , we are not providing the necessary support or structure for many of our youth . When the family structure fails , for whatever reason , there should be a supportive community that steps up .
The singular response to Terrance ’ s struggles has been to place him on house arrest . While the courts agree that this repeated sentencing does not get to the real issues , they cannot shift their mindset . So they get the same results !
As a society we have to admit that we have failed to provide a safe and nurturing environment for Terrance . A criminal justice system cannot respond to issues of trauma and joblessness .
Restorative Justice sees beyond the broken law and seeks to understand and respond to the underlying issues . It is said that if you go back far enough in any of our cultures , our elders sat in a circle and pondered how to respond to the needs of the community or village . A restorative justice practice understands that the real issue with Terrance violating his house arrest is not a disregard of the law , but of a home that is neither nurturing nor safe .
We can point fingers and blame a community for its failure ; we can point fingers and blame the police for its disregard for youth of color — or we can seek to come together and work to build a more restorative community .
The public discourse in our country reflects a nation that seeks change . We can double-down on a failed punitive response or embrace a more restorative response that at its core seeks to build bridges and repair broken and strained relationships .
I hope the paradigm shift that Richard Rohr speaks of allows for a new approach to the many issues that plague our country . I hope , too , that we as the church are not on the sidelines merely watching as things unfold , but are agents of change . W
12 • The New Wine Press • November 2016