Humility

It has taken me a few months to gather my thoughts enough to write about humility. I must confess, though, that humility remains somewhat elusive in my personal journey and may continue to evade me as long as I live. Nevertheless, it is important to me personally that I explore this topic because I believe that humility is necessary to overcome the hostilities that plague our divided world, nation, communities, and even families. It is also one of the bedrocks of authentic Christian thought and living.

Two specific instances over the past couple of weeks helped me to get to the point where I was ready to write about the topic. These instances helped me to understand and write about the concepts of shame and pride; both of which are contrary to humility.

Shame

On a recent morning, someone I know professionally told me that he thought a certain behavior of mine was self-centered. His words left me with feelings of shame and resentment throughout the day. That evening, I found solace in David’s words from Psalm 40: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand… Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” I recognized that God’s love for me remains constant, regardless of the opinions others may hold about me at a given moment. The encounter continued to bother me throughout the week, although to a lesser extent, until I discussed it with the person again several days later.

I recognized that the event bothered me so much because of my pride. As Mother Theresa, who exemplified humility much better than most, said:

"Do not allow yourselves to be disheartened by any failure as long as you have done your best, neither glory in your success, but refer all to God in deepest thankfulness.

If you are discouraged, it is a sign of pride because it shows you trust in your own powers.

Never bother about people’s opinions. Be humble and you will never be disturbed. The Lord has willed me here where I am. He will offer a solution (No Greater Love, p. 30-31)."

Pride

The evening after I began to re-write this article, a friend of mine posted a meme on social media that bothered me. I responded with a snippy comment, which resulted in a snippy response from him and so forth. After allowing this exchange to affect my spiritual well-being, I reflected on it that night and the following morning. I eventually posted another message in which I admitted that much of my argumentation stemmed from a desire to “be right.” I acknowledged that, though we disagreed, we and others engaged in similar debates share common traits. Though I initially felt disheartened when I recognized this behavior in myself, I felt thankful after I admitted this to my friend, because it provided me with a lesson in humility.

Humility

The true essence of humility was beautifully illustrated to me one evening when Milana, our four-year-old, asked to “pray that I stay small.” Children like her have no need to compare themselves or strive to “one-up” others. Perhaps this is why Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (Matthew 19:14),” when speaking of children.

For most of us, humility is a lifelong pursuit; however, by reflecting upon our moments of shame and pride and seeking the purity of child’s heart, we can begin to understand its significance in our lives.