Daily Wisdom 04-01-2003 Human Dignity

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Human Dignity

My family and I stayed at a cottage one summer where the garbage man was the best Id ever seen--on time every morning, efficient, neat, and quiet in consideration of people who were sleeping during his early morning rounds. I got up one morning at half-past six to thank him for the great job he was doing. He walked away without a word.The next time I tried to thank him, he asked me, "Are you leaving this early or just getting in?" The third time he finally smiled and said, "In 12 years of hauling garbage, no one has ever told me they appreciated what I was doing."

I believe everyone on earth is a creature of God. Were all here for a purpose and worthy of respect as human beings. Too often were guilty of saving our respect for the successful business owner, the accomplished athlete, the highly educated professional, or the movie stars and recording artists who are idolized on the covers of so many of our magazines.

I dont believe anyone is just a garbage man or just a plumber or just a salesman. The average, ordinary, common individual is worthy of respect. Millions of people go to work every day. They work on production lines to make the goods we depend on. They open the stores and the banks. They wait on us in restaurants and at the counters of countless businesses. Its a fast-moving, highly efficient society we live in, and the people who work hard to keep it moving are to be saluted and deserve our respect.

God gave us each unique talents. In our human shortcomings, we pass judgment. We tend to pigeonhole people into categories that we judge to be worthy or unworthy. We judge some work as desirable and other work as undignified. We admire the talents of a successful CEO, concert violinist, quarterback, or Oscar-winning actor but dismiss or even look down on the talents of a mechanic or janitor.

Im all for education and achieving financial success and other advancements. However, we shouldnt think less of people because they dont have these traditional symbols of success. Its important to respect people from all walks of life who work hard and contribute to the betterment of society. This holds true for professionals in the law, medicine or finance; leaders in business and politics, and stars in sports and the arts. It also includes the nurses and doctors who provide health care to patients, the cashiers who check out our groceries, the people who serve our food in restaurants, our government servants, the people who run the machines to make our products, the people who push brooms to clean up after us and the tens of millions of other honest hard-working people who keep everything running smoothly.

Years ago I gave a speech called "Powerful Phrases for Positive People." At the heart of each of these phrases is respect. I strongly encourage you to express them to people every day. Offer some of these very simple, but powerful, phrases that we all like to hear: "I thank you." "Im proud of you." "I believe in you." "I trust you." "I love you." "You can do it."

All work is dignified in Gods eyes. And each human being has worth and dignity equal to any other because each is created by God to do His work on earth. Even if we dont get up at the crack of dawn to thank our garbage hauler, we can show appreciation to any number of people who help us live each day and who deserve our respect.

Rich DeVos is vice-chairman of Gospel Communications. He is also the author of "Hope From My Heart: Ten Lessons for Life," co-founder of Amway Corp., and owner and chairman of the NBA's Orlando Magic.