Lilly's Construction

I'm going to be honest right out of the gate on this one...I have absolutely no idea what this is. Well yes, I know...it is a combination of tooth picks, styrofoam packaging, and coffee cups. However I don't have a clue as to what they now form.

Each individual piece serves (or "served") a purpose, but I'm not sure just what purpose this "structure" serves. Even more, what are you supposed to do with it?

My 6 year old daughter Lilly is the head designer and chief architect behind this project so I figured that at least she could answer my questions...

Nope.

Lilly doesn't have any idea what this is "supposed to be" or what it is "supposed to do". Further, not "knowing" what it "is" or what it "does" doesn't really bother her. She simply appreciates it because she made it and it is hers.

Lilly's construction reminds me that the value of beauty and art cannot be measured by pragmatic functionality. It is beautiful, creative, and inspiring simply because it is.

When I look at my life, with a scrutinizing pragmatic stare, and wonder just exactly what I'm supposed to "be" and "do" (so that I can measure my worth), I need reminders that my beauty and value as a human being is not measured by mere definitive functionality, but because I am the worksmanship of the master Artisan.

The Value of Usefulness ("Man's Search For Meaning" pt. 5)

How do we measure one's value? The systems of our society teach that value comes with success. Success, a word seeming always illusive as one strives for a better career, a bigger house, and more income. We then de-value that which cannot lead to success, causing us to look at those who cannot "produce" (the poor, children, the elderly, etc) as having less value.

In "Man's Search For Meaning" Frankl writes: "...usefulness is usually defined in terms of functioning for the benefit of society. But today's society is characterized by achievement orientation, and consequently it adores people who are successful and happy and, in particular, it adores the young. It virtually ignores the value of all those who are otherwise, and in so doing blurs the decisive difference between being valuable in the sense of dignity and being valuable in the sense of usefulness."

We need to operate in such a way that preserves the dignity of all people, recognizing that regardless of age, social-economic status, or "success" level, they are intrinsically valuable. It is in the place of mutual respect and understanding for ones inherent value that we can spur one another on to a life of meaning.

Cultivators of Dignity

Our greatest call is to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbor as our self...the two are inseparable. Our lives should reflect and impart to others that they are intricately made in the image of the Creator...they are of worth because they are image bearers of God.

Our history of humanity has been plagued by severe lapses in our God given command. Out of our xenophobia we have turned to defending "self" and terrorizing the "other". The benefit of this exchange has been (and always will be) "self" (identity is protected, safety guarded), at the expense of the "other" (now entrenched in worthlessness and fear). This is a win-lose scenario (win for "self", lose for "other").

This "win", however, is short sighted. True wholeness comes not when one person, or a particular people group are lifted up over and against another, but when all people stand in solidarity with one another. Our distinctive as kingdom people is not compatible with the self preservation model of our culture. The metaphors our Savior gives us (take up your cross, wash one another's feet, save his life will lose it) point us in a direction of selflessness, service, and sacrifice.

This is "our" call; all of us. In the hope that in it and through it, identity, worth, and dignity would be found for all people.