Inherent Worth

I’m coming to believe that my worth isn’t based on my productivity. My worth is inherent - and yours is too.

Author unknown

Inherent worth, when applied to all humanity, requires that we develop the discipline of treating everyone with respect and dignity. And that’s just the starting point.

I keep returning to this principle as I find myself resisting it, looking for exception clauses and ways around this responsibility. But again and again, I return to this idea that I am responsible FOR living out my core values, which makes me responsible TO my fellow humans.

We can treat people with respect and dignity even as consequences are meted out for wrongs committed. This is why we have this thing called “due process”, where people are innocent until proven guilty. But once they are found guilty, there is this accompanying principle called justice.

Even in the handing out of justice, we are still bound to the foundational principle of treating others with dignity and respect.

This requires us to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. We have to be able to appropriately discern when we administer justice and how we do so with respect and dignity for all. This includes the victims and the perpetrators. And it is very, very hard work.

But first, let’s start with ourselves. Because until we do that, it will be impossible for us to figure out how to apply it to others.

You are a person of inherent worth. It is not based on your behavior, beliefs, or your best efforts. You have worth because you are a human, created by God and in his image. This worth is a right and a responsibility. It will necessitate careful and prayerful consideration of the choices you, you inherently worthy person, will make about how you live your “one wild and precious life” (Mary Oliver).

Because you are worthy, you know that you are capable of being a worthwhile person. But you are still worthy of respect and dignity, no matter what you do, or do not do, with your life.