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Tattoos on the Heart
Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion | Gregory Boyle
24 posts | 39 read | 17 to read
Father Gregory Boyles sparkling parables about kinship and the sacredness of life are drawn from twenty years working with gangs in LA. How do you fight despair and learn to meet the world with a loving heart? How do you overcome shame? Stay faithful in spite of failure? No matter where people live or what their circumstances may be, everyone needs boundless, restorative love. Gorgeous and uplifting, Tattoos on the Heart amply demonstrates the impact unconditional love can have on your life. As a pastor working in a neighborhood with the highest concentration of murderous gang activity in Los Angeles, Gregory Boyle created an organization to provide jobs, job training, and encouragement so that young people could work together and learn the mutual respect that comes from collaboration. Tattoos on the Heart is a breathtaking series of parables distilled from his twenty years in the barrio. Arranged by theme and filled with sparkling humor and glowing generosity, these essays offer a stirring look at how full our lives could be if we could find the joy in loving others and in being loved unconditionally. From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JCPenney fresh out of prison, we learn how to feel worthy of Gods love. From ten-year-old Lula we learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Pedro we understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the darkness. In each chapter we benefit from Boyles wonderful, hard-earned wisdom. Inspired by faith but applicable to anyone trying to be good, these personal, unflinching stories are full of surprising revelations and observations of the community in which Boyle works and of the many lives he has helped save. Erudite, down-to-earth, and utterly heartening, these essays about universal kinship and redemption are moving examples of the power of unconditional love in difficult times and the importance of fighting despair. With Gregory Boyles guidance, we can recognize our own wounds in the broken lives and daunting struggles of the men and women in these parables and learn to find joy in all of the people around us. Tattoos on the Heart reminds us that no life is less valuable than another.
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Susanita
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Perfect 😍 2y
42 likes1 comment
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fredthemoose
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Going back and rereading Father Boyle‘s previous books after finishing The Whole Language. I am not religious but was raised Catholic and went to a Jesuit university. I love his approach to religion and compassion and kinship with those who face incredible obstacles. His books just leave me feeling glad there are people like him in the world and wanting to be more like him.

JuniperWilde Great review 3y
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Susanita
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1. So many choices! Tagged book was better than expected: I thought it would be cheesy and Pollyanna, but it was thoughtful and funny and honest.
2. I‘m recommending Southernmost to my IRL book club for next year.
#two4tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 3y
21 likes1 comment
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rebbyj
Pickpick

Fabulous. ❤️

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Annacferg

Jesus was always too busy being faithful to worry about success. I‘m not opposed to success; I just think we should accept it only if it is a by-product of our fidelity. If our primary concern is results, we will choose to work only with those who give us good ones.

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amycollard
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Pickpick

Loved this book. A Jesuit priest who works with gang members in L.A. tells stories about what he‘s learned and experienced through the process. It‘s a bit rambling, no specific plot. But you get a real feel for the lives of these individuals and how to see them as people, rather than just “gang members”. Beautiful , even funny at times, inspiring.

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couters7
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“Compassion isn‘t just about feeling the pain of other; it‘s about bringing them in toward yourself.”

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couters7

“It is certainly true that you can‘t judge a book by its cover, nor can you judge a book by its first chapter - even if that chapter is twenty years long.”

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Rcoco
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Pickpick

Lovely narrative of a Jesuit priest who works with gang members in LA. For me, best read in increments, almost like a devotional. Inspirational way to start my day—I‘m on to his next book.

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dfieb
Mehso-so

Firstly, I did like the book. The stories of the people Fr. Greg presents are heartbreaking and heartwarming. There are redemptive stories of those who live in the poorest area of Los Angeles and find success after so much heartbreak. The book is a collection of stories that stand alone. Homeboy and Homegirls Industry are the constant in each story. I‘m not sure if I am doing the book justice. A powerful book.

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Haweller
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Pickpick

Recommended by my S-I-L who works with gang kids, i read it in one sitting. My #1 take away—“you have to be able to imagine lives that are not yours.” I truly believe that if we could all do this this world would be a much better place.

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InnerSavvy
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Pickpick

This book is worth reading for a better understanding of gangs, but more importantly a better love for humanity. Since this life is so far removed from mine there were things I didn't always follow. Still grabs your heart.

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Ang203l
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Change awaits us. What is decisive is our deciding.

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tinaisreading
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Pickpick

I think more of us could use Greg Boyle's perspective on the world and his practice of boundless compassion. I appreciate his approach to ministry (inclusion, acceptance, understanding). This book helped me recognize the ways in which I close my heart off to others and let fear, anger, and skepticism win. Amidst a violent world, Boyle reminded me to always look towards hope and redemption as the way forward.

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Lola
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This has been on my radar for a long time I've heard nothing but positive things from friends who have read it. Audible add-on, read by the author, is 7.49 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0038A851U/ref=tmm_kin_title_sr?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr=

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crhealey
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Filling me with so much joy and love each and every time I read it. Always worth the reread

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crhealey
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❤❤❤❤

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Krissajeldy
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Enjoying this nonfiction read so far. #marchintoreading

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Nebklvr
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Pickpick

One of my favorites! Heard him first on "On Being"--super funny! Some of the stories were tragic, others humorous. This Jesuit Priest has worked with gang members for years and has buried over 80 young people..

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bmsddk
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A beautiful collection of essays of hope and renewal in heartbreak 🌻 ~ #Day3 #Inspiring #PhotoADayNov16 #bookphotochallenge ~ @RealLifeReading

46 likes1 stack add
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voracious
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An uplifting book about the goodness of the human spirit... perfect for the last week before the election.

Lupita.Reads So good! 8y
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Susanita
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Pickpick

Reading future #bookclub selections! Tattoos is a powerful account from a Jesuit priest who ministers to gang communities by living among them. Touching, funny, and often heartbreaking. Not preachy but definitely thought provoking message that God loves ALL God's children.

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Susanita

We all just want to be called by the name our mom uses when she's not pissed off at us.

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Susanita
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Our common human hospitality longs to find room for those who are left out.