The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness
Written and Narrated By: Gregory Boyle
Length: 10 hrs
I prefer to say “Gosh”, but here? I HAVE to say it: Thank God for Gregory Boyle!
Dunno, was kinda in a foul mood, but earlier I’d tried one audiobook after another to rather take my mind off m’ poor state of mind, and I’d started The Whole Language. And I’m so embarrassed to say that I was finding myself loathing it and getting all short-tempered with (Saint-In-Training!) Gregory Boyle. This was my third audiobook by him, and holy crud, what did I find myself saying?
“Dude, really? You’re going to cry all through this audiobook? … AGAIN?…”
Cuz you see, the man narrated his own work, and he does it so smoothly, like he’s simply sitting in front of you, telling you how it is (No reading by rote here). And cuz you see, when it gets to the nitty gritty, the man’s voice becomes seriously thick with tears that you can almost see rolling down his face.
And I had zippo patience with that… AGAIN…
If a person gets that crotchety whenst listening to G-Dog? Jiminy H. Cricket, it is time for that person to get a bite to eat and go take a walk. Because it ain’t him; it’s YOU!
So I got a bite to eat and I took a walk, slept on it, and I began listening to this again.
Oh gosh, now the man had me with tears rolling down my own face. It’d been far toooo long without a G. Boyle book, as a person just NEEDS an adjustment of spirit, a new take on Life, that only this particular man can bring.
This time out, Boyle is taking on Tenderness, of softening the self, of letting love in, of sending it forth to yourself, your near ones, the world at large.
In the first books, mothers and fathers (EsPECially moms) grieving sons killed violently and far too soon in their Life’s journeys were given special attention. In this book, however, we see the mothers and fathers who do NOT give a damn about their offspring. Expect tortuous childhoods, violent abuse, disgustingly and totally illegal neglect. What has happened to these gang members is the stuff that nightmares are made of. And oh how young they were to be “jumped” into their gangs, a sense of community and belonging, a destination that seems inevitable in their trajectories.
Very very brutal.
By the writing of this book, Homeboy Industries has continued to be a successful avenue for rehabilitations where jobs and training are waiting, where counselors and therapists are on hand, where self-respect is earned slowly and indelibly. Tours are given (By the former gang members themselves, and each tour passes by Boyle’s office so that gawkers can see the man as tho’ in his natural habitat), merchandise is sold, things are working out soooo successfully. Indeed, the bakery and the coffee house attract many a do-gooder who can feel just awesome about these soft places the broken young men and women have found to land, the arms open, the sacred space saved.
But G-Dog as Boyle is called is always open to the plethora of young men and women who have NOT found their way in the world. He is ever mindful to be open and caring, even if turned down on MULtiple occasions. And he’s always ready to extend the cash, help buy clothes for a new life outside prison walls, always there to be the man those in need absolutely require him to be.
There are PLEnty of anecdotes, but each story always doubles back to itself and makes its salient point: Extravagant Tenderness, loving as Jesus, as God would love, tho’ Christianity is NOT shoved down the listener’s throat. This is a man who walks more than he talks.
And he talks A LOT. Soooo many speaking engagements, sooo many opportunities to bring the “rehabilitated” with him to tell their own stories, to engage audiences of the well-heeled, or of the young and at risk. Nothing says I Know What You’re Up Against better than those who’ve Been There. And when Boyle relates what they say, how they convey their stories, dude, not a dry eye over on this end.
As always, Boyle delivers this all in his own inimitable style, bringing warmth and humor to the stories. And he brings such obvious love to the table as well. This is a man who will NOT be easily deterred, a man who will speak to ANY audience in his effort to spread the message, to teach us all how to be better people.
I’d gotten Tattoos on the Heart in print for my husband, and when I tell you the man doesn’t cry easily, believe me. But the writing, the stories hit him pretty hard, and now, good cow: M’ husband wants to get “Be Kind” tattooed on his inner arms as a reminder of a better way to live. So tho’ I’m sorely tempted to order this for him as well?
Well, we have enough tattoos in our family as it is.
P’raps I’ll just seek to emulate, to live, the words of the man, translate his teachings of Kindness, of Kinship, of Tenderness into inspired action.
This crazy world needs more of ANYthing this man has to say.
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