01/22/2026
From the Friar’s Desk~
“When it comes to human dignity, we cannot make compromises.” -Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, from 2005-2021
She is silent now, not speaking at all, her memory has faded, but her face is bright, and there was a hint of a smile early as I came to visit. Hospice is now the governor of her life. She is offered tidbits of sweet potato and ice chips to sustain her. Her hair is fixed so that she resembles more a schoolgirl than a woman in the end of life. She is a Southern woman; thus, she is strong, determined, and will fight for life out of sheer habit.
I do not know how long she will linger. Her caregivers watch over her, fussing with the sheets, checking her vitals, and petting her as she watches the room. Now commanding from her bed, she has only to look in a certain way to have the whole room cleared for a bath or to change the bedding. A man of 84 years sat in his chair across from me as I sit beside his wife of 60 years-it is like they have not been married. He speaks in sighs now, fearful, but practical. The day they married, they spoke of these days… for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness or in health, until we are parted by death. Vows made then that were spoken with such ease are now coming to fruition after a lifetime of walking hand in hand as they worked, fought, struggled, but most of all, loved along the way.
He and I spoke about the Church they love, Christ Church, a tiny cement block building some sixty years old, standing in a quiet part of town. A common exchange between us, he shares another heartfelt story of his own journey as a man of color in America… He said that when he tried to get a job as a park ranger in Arkansas, no one would employ him. So, off to California and Yosemite National Park he went. One day, as he was conducting a tour and teaching about the history of the park, a little boy whispered loudly to his mother, “Look mommy, he’s a black ranger!” As he tells the story, his back straightens with pride. He went on: 'After his talk, the woman is led by her son to meet him, they exchanged where they were from and all the usual things that people talk about, and then the little boy gave him a hug. This was not just a Park Ranger, but a man like no other in the park. The year was 1966.
We have spoken of his journey before… most of the stories ended with positive resolutions at the end, but to me, there always seemed to be always a touch of the fact that he was “other.” No matter what, he was a suspect, just not good enough; no matter who might be judging, he was still just a bit lower. His color stood between him and the level of dignity offered. He told me, “Father, you have grown in the last five or so years…” I smile; those were words of affirmation and encouragement for me. We as clergy often do not know our impact on the lives of others except when we fail. Then the lists of failings are shared as I am shredded before my accusers, even if the rumors and failings are based on limited opinions and ignorance of the whole situation. They are without mercy or kindness in the wake of such contempt for their failed pastor. You see, in the Church, we shoot our wounded.
Dignity is the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect. With humanity, as each is made in the image and likeness of God, comes the first response, which is to show deference to anyone we meet. While I fail at this at times, I do intentionally seek to live out my life not as better than another, only that I have made different choices. I am not clueless about the reality of privilege for some. The moment we choose to distinguish between ourselves and another based on the color of skin, heritage, place of birth, or any other way humans degrade another, we have twisted the image of God into something that is less than holy. Dignity, respect, and honor are all very holy aspects of humanity, and even while Christ was shown little, for us to do otherwise is to dishonor His life.
I close with the very practical voice of John, who writes: If someone claims, “I love God,” but hates his brother or sister, then he is a liar. Anyone who does not love a brother or sister, whom he has seen, cannot possibly love God, whom he has never seen. -1 John 4:20 So it is with our offering of dignity to one another.
Peace in Jesus
+Fr. Travis
