Announcing… a new initiative this year, which we are calling “In Search of Dignity.”
I’d like to tell you about a new initiative this year, which we are calling “In Search of Dignity.” I have come to believe that dignity, and its opposite, indignity, sum up the heights and the depths of what our lives can be.
Dignity means worth or value. It is what God intended when he created humanity. It is what the careless and cruel deeds of humanity spoil but cannot destroy.
Over the past fifteen months I’ve been discussing this with groups in the U.S. and overseas, and I am finding more and more leaders who see their work as helping to restore the dignity of people who have been roughed up in life. Helping the unemployed, feeding the hungry, liberating those trapped in human trafficking, supporting those who are ill or aged. But dignity is also a way of describing salvation itself. Salvation begins with the free forgiveness of Christ which then turns into a process in which we become more like Jesus–being restored to the image of God that we were created to be (Genesis 1:27).
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This is a cause worth investing our lives in, but the issues are enormously challenging.
Are we outraged by the bullying many kids are subjected to in their schools every day? Is anyone there for the woman who is raped and who needs to know that the violation her personhood has not lessened her worth? Will the perpetrators and victims in a tribal conflict come to a place or recognizing the mutual violation of their dignity, which perhaps may have been going on for generations? Will they see indignity as the class wound that keeps them wounding each other? What will it take for husbands to stop belittling their wives or vice versa? Why do some parents worship their children and others abuse them–in either scenario foiling any proper development of dignity?
This is personal. All of us can think of times when our own behavior is dignified and when it has been undignified. Dignity is not money in the bank–it has to be lived.
Let’s pursue this together in the weeks to come.
To read more now, see In Search of Dignity.
Mel,
Great topic! I work as a consultant to CEO’s and after 20 years and over 140 different companies, the word dignity is critical to the success of the company. People make companies and their condition is critical to success or failure.
Terry
I find that very interesting. I definitely want to hear more about this down the road!
Hello Mel,
I have over 30 years experience and education working with people from all walks of life. This was after serving 21-years in the U.S. Navy. I have been retired from the navy for more than 27 year, I am a senior Olympic Gold medalist, hula hoop champion, and I do a day hike at Mount Whitney with others once a year.
I agree with you that dignity is a very critical to the success of many organizations; however, in my experience I find that there is more than one variable that contribute to the success of all living organizations including your human body. It cannot survive on food alone… your car cannot perform on gasoline alone…
Currently, I am completing my dissertation on “The Dynamics of Spiritual Leadership Influence on Organizational Performance.” However, I have been working with CEO from hundreds of companies and thousands of employees. This measure was developing as a result of more than 20 years assessing spiritual human potential and now it is time for its universal application.
You will hear more about this measure I can assure you. Please keep me posted on your progress, and if I may be of any assistance to your cause, you know where to find me. Take care!
Oliver
you are so right-this is at the very core – so glad you are doing this