Worth Fighting For

 

I have a few students who are nonverbal in their communication. 

One of my students, J, has a communication device that he brings with him to class. 

Usually, when I look at what he’s written, 

It’s the books of the Bible, in order.

But yesterday, when I looked, I saw three words that stopped me in my tracks:

 

“Worth fighting for.”

 

I don’t know why J had these words typed on his device. 

He loves gospel music. 

Maybe they are a song title or a lyric?

But they spoke to me in a major way. 

 

YOU ARE worth fighting for, 

Dear student. 

 

And YOU are worth fighting for,

Dear Teacher. 

 

And YOU are worth fighting for, 

Dear bewildered. 

 

And YOU are worth fighting for, 

Dear friend. 

 

No matter where you’ve come from. 

No matter where you’re going. 

No matter what you’ve done. 

No matter what you’ve left undone. 

No matter if you’re rich or poor, 

Black, brown, or white,

Male or female,

Cis- or trans-,

Gay or straight, 

Natural born American, immigrant, or citizen of the world, 

Jew or Gentile,

Muslim or Buddhist, 

Christian or atheist, 

YOU who are humble and seeking and willing and trying 

Are worth fighting for 

Simply because you are alive. 

 

And I’m not talking about a violent war. 

I’m not talking about abusive, shortsighted arrogance. 

I’m not talking about a gun battle. 

I’m talking about active resistance to 

Anyone or anything that tells you 

You are not worthy of the goodness of humanity 

That ties most of us together. 

I’m talking about peaceful protest to 

Rules and laws that tell you that you are 

Less than because you don’t fit patriarchal norms. 

I’m talking about open communication 

That doesn’t deem the “other” bad 

But allows room for differences that do not actively seek to control, judge, and keep down. 

I’m talking about the creative process that denounces evil by 

Creating moments of beauty, catharsis, and light. 

 

YOU are a beloved child of God. 

 

YOU are worth fighting for. 

 

Human dignity and respect are worth fighting for. 

 

J says so on his communication device. 

 

May it be so. 

 

Amen.