Do all humans have value?

Today I had a major breakthrough with the students in my literature class over, of all things, a book about an Orthodox Jewish boy who discovers he has a gift for art, something which his family and community can never fully accept or even understand.

My Name is Asher Lev has been one of my favorite books since my college advisor and mentor, Dr. Shirley Mullen, invited us to read it in a World History course. In the story, the young Asher wrestles with the darkness and evil he sees in the world (embodied in his youth in the character of Stalin.)

For the first time this year, I was amazed to hear that my students were *entralled* with the book. A few minutes into our discussion, Jaroslav (or "Ruben" as we call him...don't ask), gets a serious look on his face.

"I'd like to ask you a question which I asked our teacher last year."

"OK. Shoot."

"Do you think all people are valuable? For example, do you think a good person has the same value as someone like Stalin or Hilter, or can you compare a hardworking man with a homeless man?"

Six pairs of eyes are intent on me. What will this strange Christian foreign answer to that one? They wait, these budding individuals raised in a society where homelessness is a joke and a loving God a myth...

I smile softly, my heart racing a little, aware of the magnitude of the question.

"Yes."

A barely perceptible collective intake of breath. Did she really say that? How could she say that?

I continue... "I do. I believe that every life one of us is precious and valuable, just because of who we are, not because of what we do or don't do."

Jara, "Really???"

"Yes. Certainly there are some people who make very poor choices and, in the process, harm themselves and others. Of course that is very serious and I do think there are consequences for our actions. People like Hitler and Stalin may deserve severe punishment for the ways that they've hurt people, but in their core, they are still valuable. We all are because we are loved by God."

Some mumbling, some discussion, some disagreement. Then...

Petra..."I agree with you. It's beautiful what you said. Because there is something valuable in each of us."

It's not the time yet to tell you all the intricacies of why I believe this, but this is a tangible sign of the door opening...just a crack. We're headed toward some interesting territory later in this book. Asher, the Jewish prodigy, will wrestle with the image of the crucifixion, explaining to his parents that he is drawn to it because it is the only image in the art museum that captures "that expression." A God who suffers and dies for love of the ones he values more than life itself.

God, help me communicate the depth of their value to You in words that they can hear on a heart level.