Wrestling With Thanksgiving

I’m wrestling with Thanksgiving.

wrestling_featured_image

I’m not wearing a Lucha Libre mask, leaping high off the ropes to grapple a turkey—although that would be epic. I’m actually talking about being honest with myself regarding what I’m thankful for.

Typically, I express gratitude for the good things in my life: God, family, food, shelter, health, education, friends, travel—things that warm my heart and bring a smile to my face.

But what about the other stuff? What about the things that have angered me, saddened me, or hurt me? Am I thankful for those experiences? Depending on my perspective (and sometimes my lack of one), I can find lessons in anything.

I’ve been immersed in the “Becoming Fools” project for the last three years. It’s been a stressful journey, and I’ve found myself growing increasingly exhausted and less thankful for the opportunity to be involved. I used to feel similarly about “Reparando,” but that changed over time after we released the film.

Like most people, I forget too easily.

During my scouting trip for “Becoming Fools” in 2011, Tita personally invited me to attend a screening of “Reparando.” I was honored by the invitation, but I was also exhausted from two weeks of 16-hour days spent interviewing people and capturing footage in Guatemala City. Part of me wanted to just return to my room and sleep. I couldn’t understand why my presence mattered. I thought, “I am just a silly Gringo; they won’t care. Besides, I’m here for ‘Becoming Fools,’ not ‘Reparando.'”

But Tita was persistent. She genuinely wanted me to come. So, we drove straight from our production site across the city to a church near La Limonada. Tita met us outside the church with hugs, and we watched the film from the back of the room.

reparando_tee_01

After the film ended, Tita called Shorty and me to come up to the front. She hugged me, and while everyone was clapping, they presented a gift from the people of La Limonada: a T-shirt covered with signatures from the residents of La Limonada. These were people who were very thankful for the film we made. I realized I could not have been more wrong about many things.

My perspective was renewed.

“Reparando” brought me closer to many important aspects of life—God, family, friends, education, and travel. On a personal level, it helped me understand my sons’ stories in a way I could never grasp otherwise. On a broader scale, “Reparando” has inspired countless resources that have supported missions, blessing people who struggle far more than I can imagine—people who are genuinely grateful.

I believe “Becoming Fools” will eventually have a similar impact. So why am I wrestling with feelings of gratitude over “Becoming Fools”? I’m human, and I forget. That’s why we are called to be transformed by the renewing of our minds—continuously refocusing our perspectives on the truth. We often forget, which is one of the reasons we celebrate Thanksgiving: to remember. I find myself personally challenged to recall things that might not easily fit into a warm and fuzzy Thanksgiving narrative. Most of the time, I just try to fit these experiences into the wrong perspective.

Here’s the essential message:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.“ (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Everything fits within the Thanksgiving framework when viewed from the right perspective. It’s not easy, but I hope that if I keep working at it, gratitude will ultimately prevail.

What aspects of Thanksgiving do you struggle with?

Homeless Youth Aren’t Always Orphans

Homeless youth aren’t always orphans.

“Becoming Fools” documents the intriguing story of homeless youth in Guatemala who are learning to heal through the art of clowning. During the production, we formed friendships with young people who began living on the streets as early as age seven. Through these interactions, we gained valuable insights into their issues.

One of the most profound revelations is that many of these youths, despite having families they could return to, choose to continue living on the streets. Some children lose their families, but many others prefer street life—sleeping in the rain, scavenging for food in dumpsters, disconnecting from society, constantly facing the threat of harm, and falling into the traps of drug addiction or prostitution—rather than going home to a roof and the company of family.

Why do they make this choice? Often, it’s because the violent city streets feel more peaceful than the homes they left behind. This reality is difficult to comprehend, especially for someone like me who grew up in a healthy family environment.

Many of these youths were born into extreme conditions that perpetuate cycles of drug addiction, child labor, violence, and abuse, unless a significant change occurs to break this cycle.

cast-600w

“Becoming Fools” features stories of youth who fled to the streets for various reasons, yet their experiences are strikingly similar. Mefi lost both of his parents when he was just 7 years old and ended up living with an abusive family member. Sandy was sent to the streets at a young age to sell candy and help provide for her family; she faced beatings if she didn’t return home with her required earnings. Raul lost his mother at a young age and lived with his alcoholic father, who abused him repeatedly. Although they all have family connections, these family members are abusive. At home, they are guaranteed to be mistreated, so the streets offer at least a small chance of peace.

street_youth_01

The situation in Guatemala is incredibly challenging and lacks straightforward solutions. One major issue is the current lack of a strong culture of adoption and foster care in the country. However, it’s important to note that these children are not orphans. There is also a significant deficiency in social services programs, which often lack the necessary funding and resources to provide intervention.

Moreover, Guatemala faces rampant violence, and many people mistakenly equate homeless youth with violent delinquents, such as gang members or drug traffickers. This perception leads to a neglect of opportunities to help these vulnerable individuals. As a consequence, many of these youth remain unnoticed as they navigate the streets in search of survival.

youth_clown_01

youth_clown_02

Not all hope is lost. There are organizations actively addressing the issue, developing relationships with these youths, and working with them on a daily basis in the hopes of healing and transforming their lives. During the production of “Becoming Fools,” we witnessed firsthand how these “fools” dedicate their passion to the challenging task of rescuing and rehabilitating homeless youth. On one occasion, several organizations collaborated to allow street youth from Guatemala City to perform a clown show for orphans outside of Antigua. Part of this event was included in the final cut of the film, and its symbolic significance continues to resonate with me: homeless youth bringing joy to orphans, organizations coming together, and joy triumphing over tragedy.

Encouragement

Encouragement is a blessing. In this age of Twitter and Facebook, a handwritten letter is a treasure chest full of gold that fills the emotional bank of our hearts.

Yesterday, I opened a letter addressed to Athentikos from Pennsylvania. We typically don’t receive much mail from people, so this was already a unique experience. Inside the envelope was a check and a handwritten letter that read:

“Dear Mr. and Mrs. Moore,

I viewed your documentary, Reparando, last evening on Hulu Plus and was moved by the conditions depicted in it and the work being done to address them. Praise God! Enclosed is a gift of $25, which I will send each month for the next year…”

I was unprepared for this encouragement, and my eyes filled with tears. The emotional bank of my heart has long been overdrawn after investing myself in Becoming Fools—a worthy but underfunded project that has required a personal investment from me for the last three years. To be honest, at this point in production, it’s easy to get discouraged and feel as though the last three years have been a waste of time. It feels like we’ve put something on layaway, making payments every month, but we’ll never get to bring it home.

Three years is a long time, especially in an age when we receive instant feedback. We can drive to a fast-food window and get food in seconds. We can instantly watch any one of thousands of movies or TV shows, and if we don’t like one, we can quickly switch to another. It’s easy to forget why we do what we do when we focus solely on finishing tasks, particularly when we become insulated and isolated from our original motivations.

We produced Becoming Fools to share it with an audience—not for the sake of receiving praise, but to inspire others to make a difference in the lives of at-risk youth.

I am grateful for this letter of encouragement. It highlights the power of storytelling, underscores the importance of our mission, and reminds me that our efforts are not in vain. This individual has fueled our spirits with encouraging words and financial support, helping us amplify authenticity and extend the mission of other organizations serving those in need worldwide. The irony is that this person felt moved to encourage us after watching Reparando on Hulu—a film we released three years ago, the same duration we have invested in Becoming Fools. Perhaps three years isn’t such a long investment when we consider that stories can be passed down through generations, yielding a return greater than we can ever fully comprehend. It is worth it.

This handwritten letter of encouragement is a treasure chest full of gold.

letter_post