08 July 2018

Won’t You be My Neighbor ~ Are You Special?


Greetings Dear Reader,

Some years ago, one of the stories that surfaced about Fred Rogers was that part of his message was harmful.  The perspective was that telling every child that he or she is special is not healthy.  It caused quite a stir at the time and has resurfaced with the advent of the documentary.

The real problem here is that we must all answer that question sooner or later.  Is each of us special?   We must address if our life is unique and has significant value.  We must decide that about everyone. 

The analysis should be simple.  If you are conservative and believe in God then every life is special because it contains a unique soul on the same journey as you are.  If you are liberal and believed in God then the same applies.  If you are an atheist it does become more complex. 

Since faith is not your standard it falls to you to choose what you think the value of life is.  We live in a world where that value varies from culture to culture.  We fight over the value of life, when it begins, and who can choose to end it.  It should not surprise us when there are those who see life as less than unique to the individual. 

I would submit that we dare not dismiss the value of any life until we have taken honest assessment of our own.  I do mean honest.  It is easy to count oneself valuable or worthless when pride and pain are in play.  It is much more difficult to do the same with honesty and integrity.

As a Christ follower I believe that every life; every soul is unique.  I believe that we are all special in some way that the world needs.  We all have something to contribute to the journey back to the Father.  What does this mean then to everyday life for me?

It is simple.  It means that you are special and that I want to know you and the ways in which your life makes the world a better place.  If I am going to accomplish that I must do so by journeying with you.  No matter where we fall in step I must treat you with love and kindness.  No matter what our differences I must see that you are a life worthy of kindness and grace.  So, please won’t you walk with me for a bit and, therefore, for a time be my neighbor.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn
Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”
(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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