Does every life have value? Some debate that, pointing to perpetrators of terrible deeds, evil words, genocide, pollution, and so forth. But value is a relative concept. Value to whom? And under what circumstances? At what cost? Doesn’t every life have value if it provides even one second, one breath, of joy to another – be it Black, White, cop, criminal, gay, straight, trans, homeless, quadriplegic, autistic, schizophrenic, homophobic, rich, compassionate, cruel? Does that one second of joy change the Cosmic Equation, the measure, of who we all are, and what are capable of becoming? I believe, in God’s sight, the answer is yes. I do not say that to trivialize what anyone has felt of life’s deepest suffering and injustices. It is because I believe truly, with all our miserable failures, that we are still sisters and brothers to Michael Brown, Alton Sterling, Philandro Castile, Gwen Araujo, and Matthew Shepard. They matter, profoundly, even if we are clumsy about how we show it. If you don’t know who these people are, your work is to find out. There is holy hope and joy, Godly value and significance, in each one of us.
Pastor Carol
