David, the kids, and I were on our way home from an amazing time at NCYC, - the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis. It was such an unforgettable experience... we were part of the Friday Morning Warmup right before Popple and Bob Perron then I was so blessed to sing a theme song with a man whose ministry helped shape me as a young disciple- Jesse Manibusan. We did a couple of workshops on teen leadership, helping them to overcome insecurities, discern God's voice, understand servant leadership, and love those we serve. We met so many teens, adults, fellow music/speaking ministry friends, that it was impossible to spend enough time with everyone to catch up and get to know new friends! We sang and rehearsed with a remarkable cast in John Angotti's musical "JOB: The NOW Testament" which was very powerful... I was surprised it was powerful, because I expected more to be entertained than moved - definitely not the case. I was part of the music ministry for Mass with Michael Paul Leon and Matthew Leon, Danielle Rose, and the band --- a Mass which was presided over by at least ten Bishops, many of whom I knew personally from working in their Dioceses!
It was the most amazing witness of faith. It gave me so much hope for the youth that they voluntarily attended workshops on everything from discerning their vocations to Adoration, Evangelization to Chastity, and more. They loved one another, greeted one another, possessed unspeakable joy, and prayed like I wish we prayed in our Churches back home. It was beautiful. I will never forget my experience at NCYC this year.
What does this have to do with the title of my blog? I will tell you! 25,000 people attended NCYC. 25,000 people will go back to their homes and their schools and their jobs. I pray, I PRAY they keep the fire alive, because this world is so needy of the kind of joy and love that we all felt at NCYC. This world NEEDS this next generation to live their faith out loud.
Heading home from this awesome experience at NCYC.... My family and I stopped at a restaurant after a long leg of the drive to grab a bite to eat and do some diaper changes. We were so exhausted, but in pretty good spirits. David took Damien, our three year old, to the bathroom while I sat holding my five month old, Elias, and my two year old daughter Lucia walked around our table. After a few minutes of chatting and eating, Lucia noticed a little boy running around the restaurant, so she decided to go over to him and say hi.
Lucia said hi and smiled, then the boy, about four years old, pushed her in the face. Not too hard, but enough to make me say, "Hey! Don't do that!" Lucia looked shocked, but she wasn't crying, so I didn't immediately get up, as I was getting Elias' coat on. I looked again, and this time, the boy had Lucia's head between his hands with both his thumbs pushing into her eyes. Lucia was shaking and I yelled at the top of my lungs, to try to scare him as I jumped up and rushed over "HEY! STOP!" The boy's father was walking out the door, and I think the combination of me yelling and the boy seeing his father leave was enough to make him quit and run away. Lucia put her chin to her chest, trying not to cry, but then as soon as I touched her shoulder she burst into tears.
She had two little red marks under her eyes, but she seemed okay other than that and hurt feelings.
This is troubling and I would have let the parents know if they were still around, but honestly, while I was mad at the kid at first, I realized... he is only four. Lucia and I talked about how he was a "mean kid" and then I asked her if she could forgive him - she said, "Yeah, I forgive that mean kid." :) I forgave him too.
There were four people in this story, though, that I am still having a hard time forgiving. Those are the 20-something year old men (four of them) who sat literally inches away from Lucia and this boy, laughing and watching it happen.
And doing nothing.
Their reaction was "Oh Snap! Look at what that kid is doing to that little girl!" They watched it happen, nudging each other and laughing.
Even as I comforted Lucia while she cried, there was no sympathy. They were still laughing about it.
Immature? Yes.
Shocking, though, to me. I have never, ever witnessed an incident where NO ONE stood up for someone getting hurt. Always, someone has had the courage to step in. I have heard stories on the news about someone getting beat up or even raped and passersby do not intervene. I thought those passerby must be deranged or didn't really see what was happening or made some other excuse for them, not believing this truth of humanity.... that there are men. MEN, who didn't help a two year old little girl as they saw she was being hurt.
It was devastating to me in a way that I was surprised by.
There was no ounce of compassion, no act of concern. It was just pure entertainment and maybe even "not their business".
My husband thinks that if those guys were fathers, they would have reacted differently. Maybe they would have, but how about just being human?
I pray that we can raise up the next generation to show love and compassion to their fellow neighbor. I pray that we can raise up the next generation to have the courage to stand up for the weak.
I pray that we can raise up the next generation to be selfless and sacrificial.
I pray that we can raise up the next generation to respect women - even little girls.
I pray that we can raise up the next generation to be women worthy of that respect.
I pray that we can raise up the next generation to speak up for those who have no voice.
I pray that we can raise up the next generation to live for the Lord, not for the moment.
I pray that we can do these things, because all it takes for evil to prevail... to take a foothold...
is for good men to do nothing.
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