“I’m only human,” we say when we make a mistake or can’t do everything expected of us. If we embrace perfectionism we may beat ourselves up inside, bemoaning the fact that we are all too human.

 

But that “only human” view is a temptation to look away from the beauty and potential of every human being. We are, after all, each handmade by God Himself.

 

Society and the evil forces active within it perpetuate a disapproving view of human beings through many channels that include entertainment that portrays men and women as inept idiots or selfish twits; pornography, which leads to viewing others as objects; an overwhelming use of statistics, causing us to lose a sense of the individuals behind the numbers; and through evils such as abortion, euthanasia, racism, ageism, sexism and the like, which all promote and reflect disrespect for our fellow human beings.

 

This evil anti-humanity quest almost certainly affects us spiritually. God is the antidote. 

 

First we must remember our human design.

 

The Bible is filled with thankfulness for this gift of our humanity, calling human beings “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps 139:14). “What are humans that you are mindful of them ...” asks David in Psalm 8, “Yet you have made them little less than a god, crowned them with glory and honor.” His thought is echoed again in Hebrews, Chapter 2.

 

Most amazing is what God says in the Book of Genesis: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” That alone tells us that, no matter our social status or abilities or giftedness, we have value and goodness that are built right in. 

 

Being human is an incredible gift, and God is made visible the more human we become. Evil is what happens when people begin to lose their humanity.

 

Hardness of heart is a sign of that loss — think of the Pharisees who did not want Jesus to heal on the Sabbath. Every act of bullying, dominance, abuse or manipulation, quests for power, unruly pride, indifference to others’ struggles, unfaithfulness, hatred ... many things point to the loss of peoples’ humanity.

 

But God is so great, even those who seem completely lost to evil can return to God.

 

St. Teresa of Jesus of Avila describes a soul as being like a crystal or diamond mansion, a place of many levels and rooms with God Himself present in its most inner dwelling. His light shines through all the layers and out from us into the world.

 

We could say we are fully human when nothing hampers the beauty of our soul shining with the light of God.

 

But our sins — and the sins of others done to us — are like mud thrown upon the surface of our souls. If we don’t go after that “mud” and get it washed off through confession or forgiveness, it will begin to harden. As sins multiply and stick, God’s light shines out of a person less and less.

 

But He continues to dwell within even the darkest souls. And, although the process is more painful once our sins harden in us, they can be softened with tears and repentance or cracked apart by purifying blows to our egos and false ideas. God can pull out even deeply-rooted sins, with that sinner’s request.

 

Many years ago I was walking with an older acquaintance in the Port Authority area of New York City. I felt claustrophobic and remarked with some dismay about so many people.

 

A huge smile came to her face. She threw her arms wide open and proclaimed to me, “So many people to love!”

 

I knew right then, that I had to work on adjusting my attitude.

 

Perhaps I am not unique in that need.