Esse Quam Videri

Esse quam videri.  These three words have plagued me since I was a fourth grader at St. Gabriel's Catholic School.  I know that my former officemate and dearest colleague, a brilliant classicist, whose life's goal is to make Latin the official language of the universe is probably jumping on her hands and clapping her feet.  Esse quam videri is the state motto of North Carolina.  Based on yesterday's primary election results, the Tarheel State has certainly had more shining moments of glory.  Esse quam videri means "to be, rather than to seem."  This comes from Cicero's essay "On Friendship."  Living in the Capital of our great state, I see the state flag and the state seal at every turn, with those same three words.

To be, rather than to seem.  What does that mean?  I struggled with that as a child when Sister Herman Joseph told the class what it meant.  In my eighth grade North Carolina History class, here were those same words again.  In my personal estimation, these words simply mean that in every moment we are to be the best human being and child of the universe that we can be.  I am reminded of a conversation that I had with my bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Curry when he interviewed me as a diaconal aspirant for the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina.  In reference to everyday living Bishop Curry said.  "You can't be what you can't see."  Those seven words have stuck with me since October.

Regardless of my personal feelings about Amendment 1 being passed by a majority group in my native state.  Where are the people that will be the role models that our society so desperately needs?  Where are the politicians who will be willing to march to the beat of a different drummer and represent all the people of their constituencies, and not those that have over these least of these?  Where are the bishops, priests, deacons and licentiates that will spread the holy gospel of love and peace and not the venom of division and social disgraces?  Where are the teachers that will reach out and pull all our students up, especially the little brown boys and girls that I see looking back at me in the mirror, with only two percent of our nation's teachers are black men?  Where are those that will be foolish or daring enough to attempt to take this broken and upside down world and place it right side up again?  Where are you in this scenario?  How can you be what you can't see?  How can our children be rather than to seem, unless we reposition ourselves and really think on these three words "Esse quam videri."

Faithfully,
Karsten