Come With An Empty Cup
How do we as Christians come to the civic arena? I believe we come with an empty cup. What does this mean? The way we can understand each other is not by trying to convince others of how right we are. As we communicate with others whom we know share different views, let’s start the conversation by saying, “Tell me about you.” This is the great gift that we can bring to the conversation — the empty cup. We must recapture the art of listening so that we can come to others with an empty cup in order to hear and understand them better.
In this FatherSide Chat, Father Gene reflects on growing up, finding your identity, and learning how to share your unique “song” with the world—balancing individuality and belonging while navigating rejection, growth, and the challenge of staying true to yourself.
What does a truly successful life look like? Father Gene challenges the usual definitions of status and achievement, offering a deeper, more human measure rooted in relationships, presence, and impact—being someone others genuinely want to invite back into their lives.