One of the new books at the Rippey Library is compelling and inspirational. Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle. Father Boyle shares the story from his early time at a mission in Los Angles with one of the highest numbers of gangs in the country and how the lives of former gang members are transformed through the Homeboy and Homegirl Industries, as well as the heartbreak when he buries another former gang member. As he becomes part of community and leads mass at juvenile facilities, he notes, “Kindness is the only strength there” and that “No daylight to separate us,” as he accepts and nourishes the former gang members. He shares the importance of creating a community of kinship and that all is included in the circle. He writes, “If there is a fundamental challenge within these stories, it is simply to change our lurking suspicion that some lives matter less than others.”
-Nancy Hanaman