Created for Community
09/01/20 04:28
There is quite a stir in the British press over an announcement recently made by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan that they intend to step back from some of their duties as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent. I’m not much of a royal watcher, but I have followed some of the ups and downs of the British monarchy simply because I read British news sources. I like the stories and photographs of the babies born to the family and have marveled at the stamina and resilience of the Queen. But I have no clue what the announcement means other than the fact that it appears that Harry and Meghan have decided to have two homes, one in England and one in Canada.
The couple has spent the last six weeks or so on vacation in Canada with their eight-month-old son, Archie. Meghan is American. Her mother lives in California. And she lived in Toronto before the couple married.
I admit I haven’t got a clue what the announcement means. I don’t understand how the British royal family works at all. It appears that the royal family has significant wealth through inheritance from previous generations, that they receive additional support directly from the government and that anyone born into that family doesn’t have to worry about money or working for income to their family. Part of their duties is managing significant amounts of historic wealth and properties. Part of their duties is administering various charities that distribute small amounts of their wealth to those in need. Part of their duties is participating in official functions and being a kind of public face for the British people. I’m pretty sure than no royal and probably no true royal watcher would accept my analysis.
The move, however, reminded me of something that my father frequently said when one or another member of our family got upset. “We’re a family and you can’t resign from a family.” We human beings are bound together in deep and important ways. We are not meant for solitary existence. Whatever announcements are made, wherever they choose to live, Harry and Meghan are forever bound to their family and will forever be seen as part of that family. Harry will remain in the line of succession for the British throne. It is unlikely that h will ever ascend to that position. When his grandmother dies, his father is next in line, followed by his brother and his brother’s children. There are plenty of people in line in front of him. And they are all family.
The late John Cacioppo was a professor at the University of Chicago who did extensive scholarly work on loneliness. He wrote that the only real biological advantage humans have over other species is our connection, our belonging; our ability to collaborate, plan, and be in relationship in special ways. He argues that the desperate need to belong is not a neurosis. It is, rather a part of our DNA - the result of an evolutionary process of survival.
I use different language to express the same reality. Humans were created by God for the sake of relationship. God seeks relationship with humans so much that in Christ, God became fully human. The resurrected Christ is present and available to each person. Furthermore, we were made for community. The body of Christ is not a single individual, but rather a community of people.
Whatever words are used, the simple fact is that not only are we all in this together, we all need one another in order to get through this life. As it says in Genesis 2:8, “It is not good that the man should be alone.”
I think that there are other species of creatures that are also deeply connected. At least I observe the deer and turkeys in our neighborhood traveling in groups and staying connected. Geese seem to never do anything alone. If one flies, a half dozen fly. If one is on the shore there are others on shore. Insects are communal and live in close colonies. Maybe the urge to belong and to be connected is not something that distinguishes humans from other creatures, but rather something that is essential to many forms of life. Plants require other plants of the same species in order to pollinate.
I have been reflecting on the connections that bind us together because our family is spread out over a lot of geography. Our son lives with his family in Washington State. Our daughter’s family live in Japan right now, but will likely make an international move in the next couple of years. I have a sister and brother in Montana, but my sister spends a lot of time in Oregon where her children live. I have another brother in Washington. Susan has sisters in Montana and Oregon. We are all family. We feel close to one another. We invest a lot of energy in being together when we can. The distances that separate us do not divide us from one another.
Harry and Meghan and Archie won’t cease to be members of the Royal Family when they are living in their home in Canada. They won’t be less royal in another setting than they are living in Frogmore cottage, which by the way, was recently remodeled at taxpayer expense.
All of us belong to one another. Our lives are inherently connected. I am deeply aware of that when I work with survivors of suicide. The person who has died may not have been consciously thinking about their impact. That person might have felt lonely and cut off, but there are a lot of people affected by the act of suicide. A wide circle of people are plunged into grief by the event. I sometime think that if the victim had known how many people genuinely cared their lives might have taken a different course.
So, my friends, we are all connected. We need that connection. Nurturing community is in our best interests - and in the best interests of others as well.
The couple has spent the last six weeks or so on vacation in Canada with their eight-month-old son, Archie. Meghan is American. Her mother lives in California. And she lived in Toronto before the couple married.
I admit I haven’t got a clue what the announcement means. I don’t understand how the British royal family works at all. It appears that the royal family has significant wealth through inheritance from previous generations, that they receive additional support directly from the government and that anyone born into that family doesn’t have to worry about money or working for income to their family. Part of their duties is managing significant amounts of historic wealth and properties. Part of their duties is administering various charities that distribute small amounts of their wealth to those in need. Part of their duties is participating in official functions and being a kind of public face for the British people. I’m pretty sure than no royal and probably no true royal watcher would accept my analysis.
The move, however, reminded me of something that my father frequently said when one or another member of our family got upset. “We’re a family and you can’t resign from a family.” We human beings are bound together in deep and important ways. We are not meant for solitary existence. Whatever announcements are made, wherever they choose to live, Harry and Meghan are forever bound to their family and will forever be seen as part of that family. Harry will remain in the line of succession for the British throne. It is unlikely that h will ever ascend to that position. When his grandmother dies, his father is next in line, followed by his brother and his brother’s children. There are plenty of people in line in front of him. And they are all family.
The late John Cacioppo was a professor at the University of Chicago who did extensive scholarly work on loneliness. He wrote that the only real biological advantage humans have over other species is our connection, our belonging; our ability to collaborate, plan, and be in relationship in special ways. He argues that the desperate need to belong is not a neurosis. It is, rather a part of our DNA - the result of an evolutionary process of survival.
I use different language to express the same reality. Humans were created by God for the sake of relationship. God seeks relationship with humans so much that in Christ, God became fully human. The resurrected Christ is present and available to each person. Furthermore, we were made for community. The body of Christ is not a single individual, but rather a community of people.
Whatever words are used, the simple fact is that not only are we all in this together, we all need one another in order to get through this life. As it says in Genesis 2:8, “It is not good that the man should be alone.”
I think that there are other species of creatures that are also deeply connected. At least I observe the deer and turkeys in our neighborhood traveling in groups and staying connected. Geese seem to never do anything alone. If one flies, a half dozen fly. If one is on the shore there are others on shore. Insects are communal and live in close colonies. Maybe the urge to belong and to be connected is not something that distinguishes humans from other creatures, but rather something that is essential to many forms of life. Plants require other plants of the same species in order to pollinate.
I have been reflecting on the connections that bind us together because our family is spread out over a lot of geography. Our son lives with his family in Washington State. Our daughter’s family live in Japan right now, but will likely make an international move in the next couple of years. I have a sister and brother in Montana, but my sister spends a lot of time in Oregon where her children live. I have another brother in Washington. Susan has sisters in Montana and Oregon. We are all family. We feel close to one another. We invest a lot of energy in being together when we can. The distances that separate us do not divide us from one another.
Harry and Meghan and Archie won’t cease to be members of the Royal Family when they are living in their home in Canada. They won’t be less royal in another setting than they are living in Frogmore cottage, which by the way, was recently remodeled at taxpayer expense.
All of us belong to one another. Our lives are inherently connected. I am deeply aware of that when I work with survivors of suicide. The person who has died may not have been consciously thinking about their impact. That person might have felt lonely and cut off, but there are a lot of people affected by the act of suicide. A wide circle of people are plunged into grief by the event. I sometime think that if the victim had known how many people genuinely cared their lives might have taken a different course.
So, my friends, we are all connected. We need that connection. Nurturing community is in our best interests - and in the best interests of others as well.
