dignity

i had the recent privilege to hear steven garber speak, and i loved what he had to say about faith, creativity and the arts. what he said about telling stories of truth and affirming dignity really impressed upon my mind the most.

dignity is a common theme in the things close to my heart. i get the most angry when someone's dignity has been violated--whether it be a person or animal, and my heart just hurts when individuals don't realize their own worth. i suppose it's the notion that all of creation bears the marks of majesty bestowed by their Majestic Creator, and to not be aware of that--to not live in light of that....what a tragedy. it's terrible enough that we don't recognize how we personally bear the image of our Creator, the beautiful gift that we have been given. it's even more horrible to think of the ways we rob, destroy, and strip the dignity of those around us in big and small ways.

i scribbled this little ditty the other day while thinking about what it means to see the dignity in others. nothing complex, but i really wanted to just paint simple imagery--childlike almost--because dignity should be a basic core of our human experience.

Dignity Passes By

Beneath the eaves, in the summer heat,

she shuffles by with blistered feet,

and ne’er a kind glance her eyes do meet,

but Dignity passes by.

The boy and girl with soiled cheeks,

behind closed doors and shutters peek,

shy and curious, with smiles so sweet

as Dignity passes by.

His body wearied by disease,

struggling and laboring as he breathes,

his family’s faces, once more, to seek,

Dignity…please pass by.

Millions of strangers rush the streets,

a hundred faces per chance we greet,

in their eyes, do we truly see

Dignity passing us by?

cups of coffee: 2

mood: scattered