Dignity

Laura Hillenbrand (author of the book "Sea Biscuit") has written an incredible book about the life of Louis Zamperini entitled "Unbroken : a World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption." I am about half way through the book and am enthralled. The book has been made into a movie - maybe you have seen it.

In the book, Hillenbrand shares the story of the life of Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner and World War II soldier. In the middle of the war, Zamperini's plane, the Green Hornet, crashed in the Pacific. Together with a fellow soldier, he survived for 46 days on a raft in the Pacific Ocean. When they finally make it to land, they found themselves on an island called Kwajalein that was occupied by the Japanese and the two are taken into captivity.

Hillenbrand writes of their experience there:

The crash of Green Hornet had left Louie and Phil in the most desperate physical extremity, without food, water, or shelter. But on Kwajalein, the guards sought to deprive them of something that had sustained them even as all else had been lost: dignity. This self- respect and sense of self- worth, the innermost armament of the soul, lies at the heart of humanness; to be deprived of it is to be dehumanized, to be cleaved from, and cast below, mankind. Men subjected to dehumanizing treatment experience profound wretchedness and loneliness and find that hope is almost impossible to retain. Without dignity, identity is erased. In its absence, men are defined not by themselves, but by their captors and the circumstances in which they are forced to live. One American airman, shot down and relentlessly debased by his Japanese captors, described the state of mind that his captivity created: “I was literally becoming a lesser human being.”

Few societies treasured dignity, and feared humiliation, as did the Japanese, for whom a loss of honor could merit suicide. This is likely one of the reasons why Japanese soldiers in World War II debased their prisoners with such zeal, seeking to take from them that which was most painful and destructive to lose. On Kwajalein, Louie and Phil learned a dark truth known to the doomed in Hitler’s death camps, the slaves of the American South, and a hundred other generations of betrayed people. Dignity is as essential to human life as water, food, and oxygen. The stubborn retention of it, even in the face of extreme physical hardship, can hold a man’s soul in his body long past the point at which the body should have surrendered it. The loss of it can carry a man off as surely as thirst, hunger, exposure, and asphyxiation, and with greater cruelty. In places like Kwajalein, degradation could be as lethal as a bullet. (Pages 182-183)

Dignity. As I have had opportunity to reflect on 25 years of ministry the past couple of weeks (I was ordained on June 3, 1990), this word seems to be foundational. Dignity.

First and foremost, I believe that what God offers to us through Jesus Christ is dignity. We are washed clean of that which causes us to be seen as less than dignified in our relationship with God, others, and even ourselves. The ministry of Jesus focused on raising the up the lowly, feeding the hungry, restoring the outcast to society - in short, offering dignity.

We as the church are called to do the same. We are called to see in those around us the image of God in which all are created. With our outreach ministries, we hope to offer dignity and respect. We open our doors and welcome all (at the very least I hope we do) and offer a place where the word of God is proclaimed and the love of God is shared.

Through the church's youth ministry and participation in outdoor ministry and other offerings, we offer a place where children of God hear that they are of great value in the eyes of God. I remember a conversation I had with one of my youth from my first church while we were at camp. This little boy had had a tough life. He came from a broken home. His brother died in a house fire because this boy lit the couch on fire with a lighter his parents left on the floor. He had trouble in school and more trouble at home. His grandmother was concerned about him, and she thought camp would be a good experience for him. She made sure he would go to camp and paid his way. That young boy came up to me one day at camp with a big smile on his face and said, "Pastor, you know what? My counselor told me that I am special." The words of the counselor spoke the word of God to this child. Dignity.

When I visit members in the hospital or care facilities, I am ever mindful of the need for dignity. When all is stripped away, literally and figuratively, and one finds himself or herself in a hospital bed with tubes and monitors and gowns that cover less than anyone would like, there is a need for respect and dignity.

I have been at the bedside when saints have passed away. I have been called to homes when a child of God has breathed his or her last breath. I am thankful for the Hospice workers, nursing staff, policemen and paramedics who have treated the situation with honor and respect and dignity.

In our dealing with social issues, and especially in the past few years in dealing with issues about sexuality and same sex unions - at the heart of it all is that one word - dignity. How do we treat one another with dignity? How do we offer respect?

I count it a blessing that my parents instilled in me the importance of treating others with respect and dignity. It is at the foundation of what we are called to do and to be as children of God and as the church. It is the gift we receive. It is a gift we can offer.

Wow - pretty heavy stuff.

Allow me an opportunity to offer a lighter take on respect.

This video made my day today.

All I am asking for is a little respect!