Dignity

Yesterday was interesting!  I worked the night shift Tuesday into Wednesday, and then took a long nap.  (I’m still feeling the effects of a disrupted sleep schedule.)
 
Then, after lunch, I had a conversation with someone, which provided much food for thought.  I’m still unpacking it!
 
One major insight came from reference to John Paul II’s emphasis on human dignity.  This concept is so important, and so lacking in our society today. 
 
Our culture stresses “work, work, work,” as if this is all that life is about…as if our worth, as persons, is summed up in our “productivity,” and as if we, human beings, were merely robots to be used for convenience. 
 
This poisonous attitude filters into our lives, even as Christians.  Yesterday’s conversation increased my awareness of this. 
 
It resonated deeply in my own heart, this realization that failure to respect human dignity is at the root of so much stress and suffering.
 
When we, as persons, get frustrated, when we feel unappreciated, taken for granted, and worn out, how often is it connected with this issue? 
 
As baptized human persons, we are children of God, made in His image.  We have inherent worth, which is not tied up in “what we do.” 
 
There’s more to be said on this topic than can be covered in a short blog post, but I’d encourage you (and me) to read more from St. John Paul II’s teaching on the dignity of the human person, and allow it to shape your interactions with other people.