Dignity is a somewhat mysterious thing. It’s entangled with the concept of perfection, but more on that in a bit. The origin of the word dignity comes from the Latin dignitas meaning worthiness. Efforts to retain our dignity go far deeper than just keeping up appearances. They go to the core of our self-worth. Our sense of individual value to the world.
It’s easy to see that when someone wishes to demoralize another they almost always first seek to undermine their dignity. Hitting someone ‘below the belt’ is just such an exercise. But similarly, governments can accomplish the same through underfunded education and healthcare. Entire societies are transformed into tsunamis of refugees from war fleeing toward a shred hope of dignity in other lands. Often only to be turned away there as well. Of what value must these people feel that they retain in the world? Very little by the way they are often regarded.
And of those whose lives are destroyed not by war but weather? Or the sudden shifting of the earth? Are these truly acts of God? Or are they opportunities for God to respond through our acts?
If we could illustrate love on a map, what would be its topography? Where would we see love building mountains? Where would be its valleys? Toward where does it suddenly rush in a flood? From where does it suddenly flee overnight? Look to the responding sands of our loving attention in the world. We always respond to tragedy with love. When not otherwise prevented from attending to others because of political or economic agendas we always, always render our hearts toward one another. Never fail to notice that.
Our dignity, exactly like our perfection, exists not because of what someone can do to us or take from us. Our dignity is inherent. Our dignity, our core worthiness, cannot be taken away, it can only be disguised. Perfection also is not about getting everything right; for there is no one right answer to any question. Our perfection is proven more deeply than at the level of our unkindness. That is only a byproduct of fear. It’s not real.
Our inherent perfection is evidenced by the innate human desire to continuously improve upon itself. Whether by intelligent design or fluke of colliding asteroid, we are built in such a way that we continuously seek to feel better, know more, love more, feel safer, make friends, be held. When someone claims a product will heal us we will buy it. Every time. That is our perfection. Even when that characteristic of ours is gullible, it still operates from the same directive: feel better. It’s in our very DNA.
True dignity comes from an enhanced awareness of not only our own inherent perfection but the inherent perfection of others. Neither dignity nor perfection are separable from us. No more so than our own birthdays. We are by design created to improve. As we come to see the inherent dignity and self-worth of others we realize that even the act of desiring is proof of just how glorious we all truly are. How worthy. And no amount of oppression can dislodge it.
Instill dignity in others who have lost sight of it. Remind them of their worth. Remind them of their equality. Let them know that anyone who tells them otherwise is speaking from their own lack of self worth and as such are even more in need of prayer than they. Pray for those who seek to win at board games with swords. They ultimately fear the same loss as you but have no idea how to make a plowshare from it. Our dignity is ultimately exposed by our grace. And this, more than anything, is our salvation.
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