ProSanctityofLife
How It All Began
One night, in a fit of rat race burnout, introspection and prayer, I found myself once again rolling around the question, “Am I doing enough?” That question is often accompanied by its cousins, “If not this, then what?” and, “How may I be of the greatest service?”
It was there, sitting in my darkened home office, that a whisper of an answer came to me. It brought me back to the familiar search for what truly ails society. It showed me the flagrant disrespect we too often have for ourselves and for one another.
Respect.
“Respect” is a big word, really. If we have respect for ourselves, we take care of ourselves and our world as best we can; as best we know how. If we have respect for others, we take care of those around us as best we can; as best we know how.
It occurred to me in that moment a simple lack of respect was missing from the planet. Not the kind of respect that means courtesy, though that would be there naturally enough. I’m referring to the respect for ourselves and for one another, so complete, we hold a deep intrinsic truth that all people are worthy. Period.
If we all could realize that life had value and worth and–if we could hold that realization as an unshakable truth–how could a single crime ever again be committed against another?
How to return to that then? How to bring myself and others to the infallible idea that life is sacred and due the highest respect?
Well, the way I see it, one has to get clear on the idea before one can show it to others. So, some writing had to happen. Writing is a wonderful vehicle for clarifying your thoughts, emotions and beliefs. Sharing that writing is a wonderful vehicle for getting feedback in the form of constructive criticism and differing viewpoints.
Enter this blog.
The Sanctity of Life Manifesto is intended to be a work in progress. I would like to see it become host to volumes of discussion on what a belief in the sanctity of life means.
More, I would like to know it helped someone come to the conclusion that respect was what they were missing and that respect will be what they now give of themselves to the world.
Peace of I,
Matt
