Affirming Someone's Humanity

Everyone wants to be noticed, named, and known.

I was introduced to that phrase in Springtide Research Institute’s study, “Belonging.” It’s a fascinating piece of research. If you think about it, it is exact what you want to experience. Countless students over the years have told me this. They want someone to understand them, respect them, realize they are in the room, and assure them they belong. And its not just students, let’s face it, we all are jr. highers in bigger bodies. (if you don’t buy that you are in denial)

My heart aches for that. I want to belong. When I’m the most depressed, I doubt the truth that I belong. My brain plays tricks on me and convinces me that no one cares, that I have no tribe, that I will be by myself forever. Belonging is huge!

Belong affirms a person’s humanity.

Preston Sprinkle talks about affirming someone’s humanity in his book, “People to be Loved.” I left that book realizing that everyone wants to be affirmed that they are human. As a Christian I believe that God made us on purpose in His image, which gives us dignity. We are set apart to join God in his creative work. He gave us a purpose. He knit us together in our mother’s womb. Our humanity is sacred.

But humans are really bad at helping each other remember that. Maybe it’s because of the broken world we live in. We are more concerned with filling our buckets of insecurities than we are helping others remember the truth of their creation. It’s hard to affirm someone else’s humanity when your internal world fights against you to remember it yourself.

I think affirming someone’s humanity helps people realize that they matter. I also think it helps people feel seen. When you see me as a human being, I belong. I’m not some “other” or an issue to be avoided, but someone who has innate worth. Affirming someone’s humanity says you are an equal. We are in this together.

Sometimes we make it really hard to join God in His mission to redeem the world. But it’s probably easier than we think it is. It may come down to noticing people, learning their name, and knowing them.

Maybe that is the best way to affirm the humanity in your neighbor.

So pay attention and notice, name, and know the people around you. It may change the trajectory of that person’s life.