While volunteering at LA Youth Day 2013, I attended the workshop, “It’s All Good in God’s House.” We went through a group discussion and the first question was, “Have you ever been categorized or put in a box?”
One of the adult chaperones stood up and shared instances of parishioners and parish leaders dismissing her as a fellow leader (which she was), and as an equal part of the parish (because she was new). The advice she left everyone was this: “If you ever have negative feelings toward someone, make sure you don’t carry it into adulthood.”
I believe this happens when we forget that everyone is created in the image of God. John Paul II, in his encyclical “Sollicitudo Rei Socialis,” said, “At stake is the dignity of the human person, whose defense and promotion have been entrusted to us by the Creator, and to whom the men and women at every moment of history are strictly and responsibly in debt.”
When we “box” others we cease to respect them and recognize God within them.
So to borrow a line from an inspiring speaker, the tip this week is thus … “Love no matter what.” —Justin Fatica
Makana Aiona is the diocesan coordinator for Young Adult Ministry.
