HUNTLEY—Chris Padgett, Catholic musician and speaker, hit all the right notes during his two-part presentation on how to transform life and relationships April 11 at St. Mary Parish, here.

A self-proclaimed “unique personality” and founding member of the Christian band Scarecrow and Tin Men, Padgett shared his insights on God’s love and the call for us to love one another with 175 people. His presentation focused on “relating to love” and “love never fails.”

Padgett started the morning with a sing-along to warm up the crowd. As groundwork for his talk, he seamlessly told personal stories about his early childhood and the trauma his family endured when his parents divorced.

“It was a very difficult time for our family,” Padgett said, “and my mother is still in pain.”

The result has impacted his life and how he views relationships. He has since repaired the relationship with his father who is aware that Padgett speaks of his torn emotions.

Padgett’s spirits lifted when he spoke about meeting his future wife Linda in high school and having the courage to ask her out on a date. He never thought she’d go out with him, but the rest is history as they have been married now for more than 24 years, have nine children from age 3 to 22, and one grandchild.

In his first presentation on “relating to love,” Padgett said, “Relationships are not easy and you don’t accidentally have a good marriage. It takes work.”

He explained three relational structures from God that include one’s mother and father, friends, and spouse.

“They are not always holy and good,” he said, “but they affect how we look at God.

“We are a reflection of our parents and how you were raised affects your entire life.”

He suggested making a list of the positives and negatives of your parents and to pray it through.

“Thank God for the goodness they gave you and pray that God will fill in the holes that harmed you,” he said.

On friendships, Padgett spoke about loyalty, betrayal and peer pressure and how who you hang around with shapes you.

“Have you ever thought of Jesus as your friend?” he asked.

Regarding marriage and the influence of a spouse, Padgett said when you love someone you always want to be with them.

“The intensity might change from youth to the time we age, but real love is the desire to serve,” he explained.

At the break, Beverly Hand said she was enjoying Padgett’s presentation, saying he “easily  ... made his points to remember.”

“We have a 14-month-old son and this was a date for us,” said Brian Dolder, who attended with his wife Kristen. “His words were really fantastic and really touched me. I can relate as a new father.”

The second half of Padgett’s presentation on how “love never fails” again included a personal story on how Jesus carried him to “the other side.”

“You will have a lot of storms in your life,” Padgett said, “but we are all called to be saints.”
He offered four points for successful relationships to help spouses do God’s will: mediate, advocate, sacrifice and serve.

Padgett’s most poignant moment came when he explained how to advocate.

“It’s fighting for those who cannot help themselves,” he said. “When you put the words together, it spells Mass,” he said. “That’s where we want to be — in church, a place of healing.”

It was at this time he spoke about his daughter who became pregnant in college.

“I was on the road speaking and Linda called me at midnight,” he said. “Nothing good comes when you get a call that late. When she told me that our daughter was going to have a baby, all I could think of was myself.”

As the author of a book about chastity and youth counselor, he wondered, “How could I face people and continue what I was doing?”

He said, “The Lord poured grace on me and told me that how I react to my daughter now is going to affect her the rest of her life. The first words I said to her were, ‘Praise God for this baby,’ and it saved her sanity. My family is not perfect but love can handle a mess.”

Padgett’s latest book, “I’m Not OK, You’re Not OK, But That’s OK,” talks about facing  insecurities to find true peace and become the best version of oneself.

Attendees appreciated Padgett’s honesty and humor.

“I thought his presentation this morning was lively, enjoyable and refreshing,” said Don Larson, a member of St. Mary’s Speakers Ministry. “As you get older you realize how much you were influenced by your parents and friends.”

On the evening before, Padgett spoke to about 75 young people from the youth ministry.

“I know that kids are insecure and lack self-confidence but I told them that God listens. He is not afraid of their message.”