He came in this afternoon, accompanied by others who we normally refer to as 'friends' or 'young people'. While they all fit into the customary measure of the second criteria, we can't be convinced that the first holds true too. Nevertheless, this was the first time we had met him, and it wasn't long before we began to hear fragments of his story.
He's a street kid who'se known the pain of losing his father. We're not sure what the story with his mom is, nor do we know whether there are any siblings. What's sure is that he presents as a very insecure young man. By his own admission, he'd been forced to come to our kitchen, and although he put in his time, I'm not convinced he was truly happy to be here.
Later in the day, when I happened by just at the time of supper service, he was still trying to prove himself. I wonder whether he's even aware that at least some of those who observed his choices and movements today knew that he was trying very hard to fit in. Pushing the limits is nothing new. It is in fact a very tell tale sign that he's a very needy person. The question is how to allow him to find his place, to be himself, and to trust that life is worth living.
These kinds of questions can be asked for all of us. There are times when we are all insecure about our choices, and about the possible outcomes. Learning to take the risks though is an essential part of finding peace. Thanks for today's lesson.
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