Dignity

Over the past few months, we’ve heard the following Prayer after Communion in our worship services: “Holy God, you have welcomed us to this meal and fed us with dignity at your table. Send us now to welcome others and to be at peace with one another, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

I began to hear this prayer differently after participating in a recent continuing education event, where the speaker introduced us to the book Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict, by Dr. Donna Hicks. Dignity, according to Dr. Hicks, is our inherent worth and value. While no one can take away our dignity, it is still vulnerable to attack. Protecting and tending dignity, then, is critical as we live in community, offer care, and seek to be at peace with one another.

Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

It is troubling to see how much polarization and antagonism are present in our nation these days - along political lines, but also about other critical issues connected to who we are and how we relate to one another. Regardless of the outcome of this month’s general election, we will need to be intentional in our work of rebuilding trust and tending to dignity so that we might begin to repair the divisions in our communities and nation.

In her book, Dr. Hicks names ten essential elements of dignity: 1) Acceptance of Identity, 2) Inclusion, 3) Safety, 4) Acknowledgement, 5) Recognition, 6) Fairness, 7) Benefit of the Doubt, 8) Understanding, 9) Independence, 10) Accountability. You can read about each one here, but I’ll highlight and summarize a few I think are especially useful reminders for this work of repair. 

Acceptance of Identity: “Give others the freedom to accept their authentic selves without fear of being negatively judged. Interact without prejudice or bias.” We don’t need to understand or control how others show up in the world in order to welcome them, include them, treat them fairly, and help them feel safe - safe from physical harm, and safe from being humiliated. And, we can expect the same treatment from others about our unique identity. 

Acknowledgement, Understanding, Benefit of the Doubt: Each of these elements require us to draw close rather than pull away, truly listening to others so that we can understand their point of view, even and especially when we don’t agree with them. We can give others the benefit of the doubt, and “start with the premise that others have good motives and are acting with integrity” (Luther’s explanation of the 8th Commandment in the Small Catechism has something to say about this, too). When concerns, feelings, and experiences are heard and validated, rather than dismissed or treated as disingenuous, dignity is preserved. 

The work of repair and the commitment to care for one another’s dignity is not easy, but it is essential for our life together. Each person we meet belongs to God and has been made in God’s image. When we are tempted to dismiss others, treat them with disdain, or wound their dignity, we remember that we belong to each other because we belong to God, whose love for us enables us to love one another.