In the Disney/Pixar movie, ”Inside Out,” viewers get a literal mind’s-eye view of preteen Riley as she navigates the emotions of growing up. Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust and Fear each take turns in the spotlight through the memories she relives during her family’s move across the country.
When Riley remembers losing a big hockey game, she realizes there isn’t necessarily one lone emotion tied to each memory. She recalls the sadness of losing a big hockey match, but at the same time remembers the joy of being surrounded by her team who comforted her when she missed the game-winning goal.
Riley and the lessons she learns in the movie have been great companions to me as we begin marking the 50th year of Emmaus Ministries’ presence in the city of Erie. The Emmaus that you might know, and even support, today — a soup kitchen, food pantry, Kids Cafe, and urban garden — began as a simple desire of the Benedictine Sisters and their friends to feed the hungry people who came to their door at the Pax Center in the early 1970s. Pax was a Benedictine living community committed to nonviolence through the peace and justice movement, located at our old motherhouse on East 9th Street.