I have never before witnessed a party like this. Just before Christmas, I was invited to attend the celebration at New Life Centers - Little Village. At a time of year when gatherings abound, this party was set apart by its guest list. This party was for members of the Urban Life Skills program: youth involved in the Latin Kings street gang, placed on probation and court-ordered to attend this gang-intervention program. Each ULS youth was invited to bring their family. Mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, babies--all were welcomed free of charge. Over 200 ULS youth and their families attended that beautiful night. The party was fit for kings. Catered meals, served to your table. Professional family photographs for all. 200-person BINGO. Desserts galore. Food left over. A gift for each youth. A gift for each family. A gift for each child sibling and cousin. Food for each family. Another gift for each family. More gifts for each youth. Toasts and blessings, and then turkeys for each family and a brand-new bed for one grand prize winner. By the end of the evening, families taking the bus would have had trouble getting it all home. The grace of it was staggering. Gang-involved youth--those who had turned their lives around and those who hadn't--heaped up with gift after gift. Surrounded with friends, family, mentors, and the vicarious good wishes of dozens of donors. In a city plagued with youth violence, these young offenders were for a moment simply loved. Blessed. Appreciated. Gifted. In a world where each of us is valued by our merit--our work quality, our timeliness, our social skills, our follow-through--it is a welcome glimpse of God to witness pure, unadulterated grace. As I left, I could think of only two things: a background song playing that evening-- "He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane... O! How He loves us!" --and a single, grateful prayer: "Lord, as you welcome these Kings who come to You, welcome me."