What room is there for celebration in the rehabilitation of young people accused of crimes? Can you turn the heart and mind of a juvenile offender with a joyless program of correctional lessons? A Bahay Pag-asa, we want to teach the boys that a good life includes hard work, patience, self-sacrifice and fun. A life without opportunities to laugh, play, and celebrate is not really worth the effort required to change one's direction. Even the saints knew this.
A friend was once surprised to find St. Teresa of Avila gorging herself on a partridge, "What would people think?" she asked. "Let them think whatever they want," said Teresa. "There's a time for penance, and there's a time for partridge."
So, once a year, we take the boys on a field trip whose purpose is enjoyment, fun, and brotherhood. Yesterday, we did it again, taking the residents to Campuestohan Highlands Resort and giving them the opportunities to swim, zip-line, sky-cycle and feast on a wonderful picnic lunch including lechon and home-made goat stew. We were give beautiful weather in the midst of the stormy season, and we were able to see these boys as the exuberant kids that they are...not as "children in conflict with the law." Knowing that a life well-led has room for fun, joy and feasting is a powerful motivating force for young people working hard to change the direction of their lives.
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