Sermon: Lessons From Microsoft Word

Until just now, there was really no natural and obvious way for me to introduce the topic of how Microsoft Word relates to the First Principle of Unitarian Universalism. There was no nice segue that I could think of from any hymn to software. No humorous personal story that related. Nothing to make this sound remotely like something that normal people ought to be thinking about. But now, thanks to Alan, we are in the middle of a conversation about whether technology promotes or doesn’t promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. So now I can just dive right in.

If Microsoft Word were a person, she would be a complicated person, marbled like all of us with foibles and strengths, frustrating to deal with at times, quirky at other times. But in some key aspects of her Spelling and Grammar functions she would be someone who treats others in a way that actually honors their inherent worth and dignity. Here are three features I’ve come up with – you might be able to think of more:

1. Respect for another person’s process.

Think about what happens in Microsoft Word when you spell a word wrong. You get a red jaggedy line under the word. Like, when I was writing this, I got one under the word “jaggedy.” Because that’s not a word. But she doesn’t give you the red jaggedy line while you’re typing the word. As you’re going along, typing each letter, she reserves judgment. Even if you stuck a “q” in the middle of “jaggedy,” and there would be no possible way, no matter what, that it could become a correctly spelled word, she would not weigh in on your spelling until you had finished the word and taken a breath by hitting the space bar. Because until that moment you are still in process.

What a gift when we can offer one another that kind of respect – when we can allow someone the dignity of their process. So often we’re so quick to correct one another – to jump in with advice and opinions; assert our own viewpoint before they’ve even had a chance to go through what they need to go through. What if we could wait – withhold judgment, like Microsoft Word. What if we could give them space until we really understand what they’re getting at. Until they really understand what they’re getting at. Maybe they’ll make a mistake and correct it before they’re done. Maybe they’ll surprise us by ending up in a different place than we thought they would. We don’t know. So what a wonderful way to honor the inherent worth and dignity of another – step back and give them the fullness of time to become themselves.

2. Respect for the wisdom of those who came before us.

When you accidentally repeat a word in Microsoft Word, she gives you the red jaggedy line to let you know. But which word gets the jaggedy line under it? It could be either, right? You could delete either of the two and solve the problem. But in Microsoft Word, it’s the second word. The second one is identified as the “error.” There’s a sense that the first one was fine by itself – it had no problem until the second one came along trying to take its place. It’s the second one that created the redundancy and added nothing. Microsoft Word defends the one who was there first.

In American culture, so often we are taught that newer is better. The shiny thing, the next big thing, the latest technology, the hot new stock, the younger person (no offense, Alan), the candidate who’s brand new to politics – all embraced reflexively without regard for whether they’re actually offering anything different or better than what came before. As a result, our culture gets cheapened, and human beings get pushed aside as if they are worthless. Talk about invisible people. So many of our elders, especially women, get discounted. So many of our teachers of all kinds are disregarded as newer generations decide they have nothing to learn. So many religious and cultural traditions get left in the dust. How much better it would be if we could honor the inherent worth of those who came before us. Listen to them and draw from their font of wisdom (no pun intended). Approach one another with humility. And only enter the conversation once we have something, not just new, but different to contribute.

The third thing that Microsoft Word does to promote the First Principle is my favorite: Allowing others to change and become something new. When you are typing a word, not only does she wait until you’re done typing to evaluate whether the word is spelled right or wrong, but if she deems it wrong, that’s not the end of the story. If you were intending to spell it that way, if you were inventing a new word or it’s a word in another language or just a word that’s not in her dictionary, you can add it. You can add words to her dictionary. You could add the word “jaggedy” even with a “q” in the middle. She will accept the addition unconditionally, unreservedly, whatever it is, and forever more, when she sees that word, she will deem it correctly spelled.

In a way, this is the counterbalance to the previous feature, where she gives deference to the past. This is giving deference to the future – to the worth and dignity of a person’s new idea and new way of being in the world. There is infinite room in her dictionary – when you intentionally assert your presence, she will never say no to you. This is perhaps the greatest lesson of all.

Even when we think we have it all figured out, when we’re ready to judge someone else; when we think we know the appropriate contours of the box they live in, when we think we’re in a position to correct someone else’s life grammar or the spelling of their DNA, they need to be able to trump us and say, “no, that wasn’t a mistake. That’s what I meant.” And that is precisely when we need to open our hearts and minds to the unique and stunning beauty of their individuality.

Does this mean that we have to descend into relativism and have no standards for each other and ourselves? No. But it does mean that as a general principle, people have a right to add a word to the dictionary. We hope that people will do it responsibly. We hope that people will do it after a thoughtful and prayerful process. We hope that people will do it with a respect for the past and for their teachers. But people have a right to add a word to the dictionary.

And it’s the job of each of us as collective keepers of the lectionary of human consciousness to accept others’ good faith entries. Like Microsoft Word, it’s our job to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Respect the process of others, honor those who came before us, and make space for the new and unique gifts that each one of us brings to the table.