Mid-Week Missive: All People Deserve Respect and Appreciation

Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. (John 4: 4-26)

We are continuing our journey through the book – Community Rules: An Episcopal Manual by Ian Markham and Kathryn Glover, both administrators at Virginia Theological Seminary. There are 52 “Community Rules,” which fit nicely into a one-rule-a-week rhythm over the course of a year. So I am going to be working my way through this book in 2019, reading and writing  through the lens of our Life Together* as part of the Christ the King Episcopal Church family, as well as part of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. 

Rule # 3: All People Deserve Respect and Appreciation. Markham and Glover’s reflection on this rule can be found in their book, which can be purchased here. 

How does this rule apply to our Life Together at Christ the King? This is the first community rule we’ve encountered that isn’t unique to the Judeo-Christian tradition. Respect and appreciation for others is a universally recognized (albeit not always practiced) value for communities. Within the Christian tradition, I think that it is helpful to frame this “rule” along the lines of a spiritual discipline. We know that all people -generally speaking - deserve respect and appreciation. But when it gets to specific people and situations, it can be more difficult.

The media has done a masterful job of pitting people and groups against one another, and feeding the innate human tendency to vilify, scapegoat, and blame others. But the media didn’t create this dynamic…it existed long before radio, television, and the internet.

When we find ourselves lacking respect and appreciation for others, I think that the spiritual discipline we can engage is that of “starting small.” Begin with those closest to you – your family, neighbors, co-workers, and members of your church. That is a gracious plenty! If we can prayerfully and gracefully work towards respecting and appreciating all the people in our smaller sphere of life, the practice will begin to expand and reach a broader sphere of folks. Just like the Parable of the Mustard Seed that I mentioned last week, through the grace and power of God, what starts out as small can grow beyond measure!

Pax,

Richard+

* “Life Together” was the theme of our recent Diocesan Convention, and will remain as our theme as we enter into our 50th year together as the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.