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  The trend these days in many churches is for the head man, whether preacher, pastor, reverend or father to gain the status of doctor. It matters not to many whether that distinction comes by education or honor, just so the person in question can place the revered notation before his name. Is the title a description of the man or of his work and is the man the sum of his work or the sum of his character?

  We accept the initials MD behind the name of a medical doctor as proof of his educational status and willingly call him Doctor. Yet I have no compulsion to call the architect who designed my house Architect Smith. Is his contribution any less worthy of an honored title?

  My auto mechanic attended trade school rather than a university. Is he then less capable at doing his job thus undeserving of a title or should I begin to call him Master Mechanic Bob?

 Using the  titles  Mr. and Mrs. or addressing another as maam or sir are signs of respect. Even movie pirates address their first mates as Mr. Barbossa. We address our teachers as Miss, Mrs. or Mr. as well, though Principal Brown gets a title. For several thousand dollars more, teachers can change their titles to Professor.

  In what circumstances is it more acceptable to greet a person by their career choice rather than as another human being? Is the homage better spent on a person who makes more money than the average person who gives more of himself by volunteering? Who is it anyway that defines the value system of another human being?

  When they are not working in the capacity of their title, their address is based upon our relationship to them. If my husband were a doctor, I don’t believe I’d call him doctor when he got home. Yet I’d call him or our sons Mr. if the situation warranted it.

  Some people find titles too fussy or stifling and believe they interfere with connection, communication and inhibit real rapport.  Are these people then progressive, able to live and function beyond the confines of their title? Titles seem to imply a hierarchy and appear to be meant to place people in their approriate place according to the relationship they share.

  I think I’d rather other people shun their titles and let me offer them as a sign of my respect at my discretion. Maybe they’d work harder at our working relationship or serve me more fully in their capacity to gain that approval. I’ll ponder the  dilemma further at a later time. Student David needs Mommy/Author Kajora to make his dinner.