conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

titles

AKMA has talked about this from time to time. Now Hugo is having a go at it. I posted a brief response in his blog, but I was thinking I should say more.

On September 25th I will become a husband. It is a role and a title of sorts. In November, I will be ordained if I don't screw something up between now and then. I will be given the title of Reverend...a pastor I will be. I have two master degrees soon enough. There are titles or roles intrinsic to all of this. And, though those roles may be cheapened on some level by the inability of some to live into them, I think ignoring their potency is only adding insult to injury.

I hope to live into the title of Reverend...and husband. I hope that people look at me and see the fruition of long journeys. I hope to be able to claim the honor of those titles. I understand Hugo's reverse snobbishness. I really do. But I am not convinced that actually undergirds his theory. I think the way he lives into the role of professor, for example, actually does more to support the title than not. I would probably be compelled to call him "professor" if he were mine.

I know that I need the person in the role to play into that role fully. I also know that I am adult enough to distinguish the person from the role and allow for great flexibility and forgiveness in living into the role. But if I am looking to be tought by a professor, I would rather encourage you to be a professor and hold off the friendship and the comradeship for later...when I have earned it.

Posted by tripp at August 19, 2004 09:52 AM