It will likely surprise no
one that I have been listening to and inspired by the Harry Potter series.
Currently I am in the middle of the 7th and final book of the series,
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows…again.
These books are like comfort food or a security blanket for me. Reading and
listening to them is like coming home, like visiting dear friends.
As I drove home the other
night Harry, Ron, and Hermione listened to the resistance radio show called “Potterwatch.” I was struck anew by
something Kingsley – under the pseudo name “Royal” – said to the listeners, “We’re
all human, aren’t we? Every human is worth the same, and worth saving.”
It is a short, and simple
thing on the surface. At this point in the story, Voldemort and the Death
Eaters have taken control of the Ministry of Magic. They are rounding up muggle
born witches and wizards, taking their wands and imprisoning them. They are
hunting and killing members of the Order of the Phoenix and others who resist
them. They are torturing and killing muggles for sport.
My first thought, during
the Potterwatch scene, was that I
wanted to find ways to actively resist our current administration like
Kingsley and others were in Harry Potter. Kingsley’s words made me think of
immigrants and transgendered people, of sanctuary cities and safe spaces.
Then I thought of the
Baptismal Covenant in the Book of Common Prayer, and it gave me pause.
I love the Baptismal
Covenant. It is beautiful. It inspires and challenges me.
The one that I hear most
often referred to in my progressive Episcopal communities is:
Will
you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of
every human being?
Respecting the dignity of
every human being is particularly a favorite phrase.
It’s not only quoted and
tossed around as a nice aspiration. Rather, it is hurled at those we disagree
with as an accusation.
Progressive Christians are
quick to congratulate ourselves on being open-minded, welcoming, loving. And
certainly, we are…so far as it is convenient.
Often when “respect the
dignity of every human being” is quoted what is really meant is certain human beings. The marginalized.
The suffering.
And most definitely we
should mean that. We should stand for and with the poor, with immigrants, with
people of all – or no – religions, with people of color, with people of all
genders, with gay and lesbian people, with women.
It’s too easy for us as progressives,
though, if that’s all we mean.
My experience of and
thought around this particular promise has changed for me recently.
What has struck me
differently about the promise to respect the dignity of every human being is
perhaps painfully obvious to the rest of you:
My respecting the dignity
of others is not dependent on their respecting my dignity or anyone else’s.
It feels sometimes like
what we’re really saying is “We’ll respect the dignity of those we agree with
and who will respect us back. The rest…well, we’ll respect their dignity when
they respect ours.”
That will only ever be a
losing game.
I am most assuredly not
great at honoring the dignity of those with whom I disagree, particularly in
our current political climate. But if I take following Jesus seriously I must work
on getting better at this promise I have made and remade countless times.
HOW!?
The truth is I am not
sure.
I think of the White
House, of Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell, and my skin crawls. I am filled with anger, fear, and
grief. I balk at the support they get throughout the country and am dismayed.
How can I love this administration?
How can I see Jesus in them?
Love does not mean acceptance.
Love does not mean we stop fighting for justice.
It does mean we see one
another as fully human. That we care about one another’s wellbeing. That we are
willing to listen to one another.
When I think of the ways I
have experienced Jesus in those around me the first person I think of is my
Grandma Sue. She lives in a small town in Northern Indiana. She is
theologically, politically, and socially conservative. She is one of the
kindest, most loving people I have ever met. She is patient. I have never heard
her raise her voice in anger. She never treats others with disdain or
disregard. When she does or says something she thinks might have hurt someone
else she follows up with an apology. She loves me and all her grandchildren –
all of her family, really – unconditionally and fiercely. When she disagrees
with our choices or actions – and oh boy she does – she lets us know, but never
are we left doubting that she loves us to the moon and back. She prays for each
of us regularly.
I think of her when I
think of how we are meant to live and love as Jesus.
And so, at least to start
with, I am going to pray for Donald Trump, and Mike Pence, and Paul Ryan. I am
going to pray for those with whom I fundamentally disagree about the world and
what it means to be human, to be Christian. And, I am going to pray for the
grace to respect their dignity, regardless of whether they ever respect mine.
Perhaps new ways of healing
and reconciliation with reveal themselves in time. If you’ve got ideas I would
love to hear them.
