Respect for many is just a point of social etiquette. It’s offered simply because it’s the right thing to do. But paying our respects goes deeper as well. Far beyond a meaningless social ritual, it’s a ritual that allows our body and soul to express honor even when our words fail.
To be fair, kids are initially taught the behavior of respect without fully grasping the heart behind it. They merely do what they’re told. But hopefully in time this discipline trains them to pay respect from a true heart.
In the same way, many adults perhaps just go through the motions of respect to maintain social norms without much sincerity behind their actions. And generally this is better than no respect at all. But better still is learning the heart behind our actions to fully embody the respect we seek to offer.
For instance, paying respect to a teacher, boss, or elder is not suggesting that they’re perfect. There’s a time to respect the position even when we don’t respect the person. And beyond mere civility, this discipline teaches us the role of authority in our lives. We’re not the center of the universe and often we must submit our wills to the direction of another. Certainly, this is true as we surrender to God himself.
Likewise, paying respects at a funeral is part of how we express our condolences to a family who has lost a loved one. But it’s also a way to honor the life that was lived and to come to terms with the loss ourselves. It’s a ritual that slowly allows our souls to play catch up with this new reality.
Whatever it looks like, paying respects is not merely a social obligation. It’s an act that trains our souls to express true honor. And we miss this deeper work when we just go through the motions.
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