A tall, gangly tree stands in our neighborhood.
[1] Its uneven, spreading branches have curtains of dark green foliage draping from each branch. It is imposing and towers above the house it shares the space with, and is unusual and even off-putting. But it has a certain dignity as it commands its space, almost daring us to notice its awkward beauty. Many people may strike us the same way— awkward, unusual, maybe even embarrassing in their boldness.
What gives this tree its dignity? Maybe the answer is in its being part of God’s creation. Do all people created by God possess this dignity? Not everyone would agree that they do. Perhaps the unborn, unwanted child is not perceived as having dignity; nor the imprisoned among us who are so broken their dignity is difficult to see.
Some might have doubts about those of opposing opinions and lifestyles, or those who are driven by hatred and destruction. We often meet and hear about people whose hallmark of dignity is thought to be debatable.
Sometimes the differences among us cause us to neglect giving the respect and protection which all human life is innately due. Or perhaps our prejudices blind us to the humanity in others. Maybe we fear having to risk involvement in fighting for those unable to fight for themselves. Maybe, in our pride, we just don’t want to soften our hearts toward those who are vastly different from ourselves.
In 1948, many nations ascribed to The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Written after the atrocities of World War II, it attempted to present a standard of respect that all humans deserve. It maintained that “all people hold value tied solely to their humanity.” Throughout the ages there have always been people who had the aspiration to value human life as having dignity.
Going further back in time, the reverence for human life was enshrined in America’s Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” The concept of respect for the individual is embedded deeply within the Founding Fathers themselves, in our laws, and throughout our history.
But we can travel back further in history to discover the true foundation of the validity of human dignity. Genesis 1:27 teaches us: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.“ That is our true identity as God intended from the beginning. Our dignity first resides in our being made in the very image of God.
It is through seeing the world and its people through God’s eyes that we recognize the truth of the dignity of all of God’s creation, including and especially humans.
Just as we might see our neighborhood Nootka Cypress, or any other creation, as having unique beauty created by God, so we can remember to see all humans as His creation as well. We can, therefore, give the respect their human dignity warrants. As we encounter all aspects of God’s creation, may we learn from and appreciate it for our instruction and inspiration.