I have had a form on my website for a while trying to get some ideas around the idea of identity as this is when my summer project it on for college.
One of the questions I have is what gives someone their worth? The answers have been quite interesting. Not one person has mentioned job or class. Quite a few have said that the way you act and interact with other people gives you your worth.
One person has said that people make their own worth by believing in themselves.
Another said that if someone is friendly then they have value but if they don’t then they don’t have as much.
Someone said that the harder you work the more you should be rewarded.
Some good answers, I like the one about it being how you treat others etc.
However, I am thankful that this isn’t how God sees worth, especially when he witnesses our acts that are not so worthy. That God can see worth in all – right throughout the spectrum of humanity.
I’ve been reading through Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel recently
(boy, do I know how to have a good time!:-)
but, from what the three prophets said to the great and the good of Judah and Israel, I think that the bankers have a bit of a surprise coming to them…
it’s sad when one persons self esteem, however hard won, is still won at the expense of judging and condemning others
the church seems to be particularly good at this at times, it seems there’s nothing Christians find easier, or enjoy more than playing judge and jury – despite Christ’s admonishments to refrain
so it’s doubly refreshing when you find a church group that’s seeking to build a more inclusive and egalitarian system, where respect is the most noticeable thing about them
who was it who sung:
“How much do you say you are worth now, would anyone stand up and say? Would you say that man is worth nothing, till someone is willing to pay”
Remember hearing that for the first time and going very silent………….
MMP @ 9 I think that song was written by a guy named John Featherstone…but it’s a long, long time since I heard it back in my uni days so I may be completely wrong there
Forrest @ 4. Luckily the answer is ‘no’ – how we feel about our worth fluctuates according to intrinsic and extrinsic factors, but our worth to God doesn’t waver, ever. We are made in his image and loved by him, which gives us our worth – it always remains the case and sometimes the haze clears and we catch a glimpse of it. Hoping you get a big sense of that and that your cat purring is a comfort too.
Ezekiel 16:49
Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. She was proud and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out…
Following the cartoon above, I’m worth less than nothing because I OWE money – not a huge amount, but enough for the new kind of Debt Relief Order. It’s a very Biblical concept because your debts are wiped out. So this is my Year of Jubilee and I’ve just bought a beautiful sundress to celebrate. I figured it was an investment in my future.
This financial crisis is really making us all evaluate our priorities in that soooo many folks can no longer assume the role of the banker(thank God). They “used” to be worth a fortune but are now destitute (though their version of destitute is pretty warped).
Second part of my thought – so how then do we define ourselves? I start by saying I’m a child of God – that’s my core DNA – then a writer, that’s how I live out my DNA and then who the hell knows?
I was thinking about this cartoon at some point over the last couple of days and thought about how do we value ourselves or each other as church members.
Is someone seen worth more because they take part in an activity at the front, rather then something like serving tea and coffee or puting the chairs away at the end.
Where as obviously everyone of the roles are required to function as a Church and are as valuable as one another.
A bit of light relief — some is needed after the discussions I have just been reading. I once performed an arrangement of “How Much Do You Think” by Graham Kendrick with a choir. When the conductor picked up his copy of the music he noticed that under the title “How Much Do You Think” somebody had added “not at all if I can help it”.
Today’s art quote from that gadget down at the bottom of my blog:
“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”
Aristotle
I’ve had a few days of feeling low, which is scary after having felt so good for months. Partly tiredness, but I think also a few consecutive experiences of failure to connect after so much feeling connected. And that brings up fears of rejection. It’s hard moving to a place where you don’t know anyone and my new friend Steven is moving away soon and everything seems to close down for the summer.
Yep, that connection thing will do it. There are people out there but it’s like you are on two different sides of the fish bowl – is what’s on the other side real or apparition? can’t feel it from here, hard to tell.
Have a small bit of understanding of the moving thing, Dad was in Navy and got transferred about every other year.
On the one hand, interesting to live different places, have different regional foods, places of interest.
But on the other hand it was a pretty much constant “I’m not one of these people” thing.
Is quite uncomfortable feeling.
Isolated. Your note about closing down for summer would increase that.
an Idea, for whatever it’s worth; what might it be possible to do out by yourself and be you, that might draw someone to you because ‘that looks interesting’?
Hang on Tiggy, somewhow you’ll make it.
Say hey to Steven for all of us here at ASBO.
Cheers, mate. It’s not as bad as I made it sound because i really do connect with people in Bath. I’ve joined a social club and they are a really nice bunch and I meet nice people I connect with all the time. But it’s hard when everyone is new and you don’t have an established shared past with them. I’ve done quite well considering I didn’t know anyone here at all. Well, only one and he’s ….
You marble gods of Greece, you are too much
For me the wandering Jew without a home
Envy of a world I never touch
Afraid to find the statues made of stone.
Why is it that worth is always considered materialistically? Yeeha and No 1 too! That must be worth something!
Comment by rockingrev — July 3, 2009 @ 11:15 am
I have had a form on my website for a while trying to get some ideas around the idea of identity as this is when my summer project it on for college.
One of the questions I have is what gives someone their worth? The answers have been quite interesting. Not one person has mentioned job or class. Quite a few have said that the way you act and interact with other people gives you your worth.
One person has said that people make their own worth by believing in themselves.
Another said that if someone is friendly then they have value but if they don’t then they don’t have as much.
Someone said that the harder you work the more you should be rewarded.
Some good answers, I like the one about it being how you treat others etc.
However, I am thankful that this isn’t how God sees worth, especially when he witnesses our acts that are not so worthy. That God can see worth in all – right throughout the spectrum of humanity.
Comment by James — July 3, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
I’ve been reading through Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel recently
(boy, do I know how to have a good time!:-)
but, from what the three prophets said to the great and the good of Judah and Israel, I think that the bankers have a bit of a surprise coming to them…
Comment by Caroline Too — July 3, 2009 @ 12:17 pm
I’m not feeling worth much.
Which to the perceptive raises a question – is what one feels the same as what one is?
Comment by Forrest — July 3, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
Well, I’m going to go comb the cat, at least I’m worth that much to Grumman the lame Wondercat.
And he’s worth everything to me, don’t know that I’d be here without him.
(my, aren’t we the one for drama today)
Comment by Forrest — July 3, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
Matthew 10:31
So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Could it be worth is measure of how much you can meaningfully interact with something?
It’s life Jim but not as we know it!
Comment by Miriworm — July 3, 2009 @ 12:53 pm
The question or challenge is what are YOU going to do to help change the balance?
Comment by beatthedrum — July 3, 2009 @ 1:02 pm
it’s sad when one persons self esteem, however hard won, is still won at the expense of judging and condemning others
the church seems to be particularly good at this at times, it seems there’s nothing Christians find easier, or enjoy more than playing judge and jury – despite Christ’s admonishments to refrain
so it’s doubly refreshing when you find a church group that’s seeking to build a more inclusive and egalitarian system, where respect is the most noticeable thing about them
Comment by subo — July 3, 2009 @ 1:08 pm
who was it who sung:
“How much do you say you are worth now, would anyone stand up and say? Would you say that man is worth nothing, till someone is willing to pay”
Remember hearing that for the first time and going very silent………….
Comment by MMP — July 3, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
Praise The Lord that in Jesus eyes we were worth it all!!
Comment by bubbybird — July 3, 2009 @ 2:25 pm
Funny that someone who does not see themselves as worth anything right now and does not currently trust God or Jesus would write this about their cat and his conversation with and rescue by “The Maker of All”, who only _can_ be God.
http://these4partsofme.blogspot.com/2009/06/accidental-reflection-of-feline-future.html
(can we say, “conflicted mental patient” author?)
Comment by Forrest — July 3, 2009 @ 3:05 pm
No Forrest it tells me that you are still open and searching for what is YOU. God Bless!!
Comment by bubbybird — July 3, 2009 @ 4:39 pm
MMP @ 9 I think that song was written by a guy named John Featherstone…but it’s a long, long time since I heard it back in my uni days so I may be completely wrong there
Comment by Pat — July 3, 2009 @ 5:38 pm
Forrest @ 4. Luckily the answer is ‘no’ – how we feel about our worth fluctuates according to intrinsic and extrinsic factors, but our worth to God doesn’t waver, ever. We are made in his image and loved by him, which gives us our worth – it always remains the case and sometimes the haze clears and we catch a glimpse of it. Hoping you get a big sense of that and that your cat purring is a comfort too.
Comment by Kim — July 3, 2009 @ 6:12 pm
Ezekiel 16:49
Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. She was proud and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out…
Comment by christine Gill — July 3, 2009 @ 9:15 pm
well well
http://www.grahamkendrick.co.uk/songs/lyrics/how_much.php
Comment by MMP — July 3, 2009 @ 10:09 pm
Following the cartoon above, I’m worth less than nothing because I OWE money – not a huge amount, but enough for the new kind of Debt Relief Order. It’s a very Biblical concept because your debts are wiped out. So this is my Year of Jubilee and I’ve just bought a beautiful sundress to celebrate. I figured it was an investment in my future.
Comment by Tiggy — July 4, 2009 @ 1:10 am
MOST people (christian or not) in America see worth exactly that way. Our current society is built on it.
Comment by Ken — July 4, 2009 @ 4:08 am
my nanny taught me “You are what you think you are worth”
Comment by dennis — July 4, 2009 @ 7:45 am
It reminds me of the Thatcher era quote: (they) ‘know the price of everything, but the value of nothing’
Comment by PeterP — July 4, 2009 @ 8:08 am
i believe oscar wilde said that, peterp. it’s a great quote indeed.
Comment by jonbirch — July 4, 2009 @ 9:12 am
I prefer, ‘We may be in the gutter, but we’re looking at the stars’.
(something like that)
Comment by Tiggy — July 4, 2009 @ 9:57 pm
This financial crisis is really making us all evaluate our priorities in that soooo many folks can no longer assume the role of the banker(thank God). They “used” to be worth a fortune but are now destitute (though their version of destitute is pretty warped).
Comment by beckyG — July 5, 2009 @ 7:17 pm
Second part of my thought – so how then do we define ourselves? I start by saying I’m a child of God – that’s my core DNA – then a writer, that’s how I live out my DNA and then who the hell knows?
Comment by beckyG — July 5, 2009 @ 7:23 pm
I’ve always defined myself more by my personality than by what I do.
Comment by Tiggy — July 5, 2009 @ 8:52 pm
I was thinking about this cartoon at some point over the last couple of days and thought about how do we value ourselves or each other as church members.
Is someone seen worth more because they take part in an activity at the front, rather then something like serving tea and coffee or puting the chairs away at the end.
Where as obviously everyone of the roles are required to function as a Church and are as valuable as one another.
Comment by James — July 6, 2009 @ 8:47 am
A bit of light relief — some is needed after the discussions I have just been reading. I once performed an arrangement of “How Much Do You Think” by Graham Kendrick with a choir. When the conductor picked up his copy of the music he noticed that under the title “How Much Do You Think” somebody had added “not at all if I can help it”.
Comment by rebecca — July 6, 2009 @ 11:48 am
Today’s art quote from that gadget down at the bottom of my blog:
“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.”
Aristotle
Quite relevant to this topic, yes?
Comment by Forrest — July 6, 2009 @ 5:56 pm
#27 rebecca…you are obviously an angel in disguise
today i sooooo needed a laugh about now!
Comment by mmp — July 6, 2009 @ 7:27 pm
You have a quote-generating gadget? That’s cool.
I’ve had a few days of feeling low, which is scary after having felt so good for months. Partly tiredness, but I think also a few consecutive experiences of failure to connect after so much feeling connected. And that brings up fears of rejection. It’s hard moving to a place where you don’t know anyone and my new friend Steven is moving away soon and everything seems to close down for the summer.
Comment by Tiggy — July 6, 2009 @ 9:44 pm
Yep, that connection thing will do it. There are people out there but it’s like you are on two different sides of the fish bowl – is what’s on the other side real or apparition? can’t feel it from here, hard to tell.
Have a small bit of understanding of the moving thing, Dad was in Navy and got transferred about every other year.
On the one hand, interesting to live different places, have different regional foods, places of interest.
But on the other hand it was a pretty much constant “I’m not one of these people” thing.
Is quite uncomfortable feeling.
Isolated. Your note about closing down for summer would increase that.
an Idea, for whatever it’s worth; what might it be possible to do out by yourself and be you, that might draw someone to you because ‘that looks interesting’?
Hang on Tiggy, somewhow you’ll make it.
Say hey to Steven for all of us here at ASBO.
Comment by Forrest — July 7, 2009 @ 1:41 am
Cheers, mate. It’s not as bad as I made it sound because i really do connect with people in Bath. I’ve joined a social club and they are a really nice bunch and I meet nice people I connect with all the time. But it’s hard when everyone is new and you don’t have an established shared past with them. I’ve done quite well considering I didn’t know anyone here at all. Well, only one and he’s ….
Comment by Tiggy — July 7, 2009 @ 2:04 am
…unnaproachable because I have no status.
You marble gods of Greece, you are too much
For me the wandering Jew without a home
Envy of a world I never touch
Afraid to find the statues made of stone.
Comment by Tiggy — July 7, 2009 @ 9:38 pm