Humility Weakly

Story Bout A Man Named Joe

2011-12-21T21:24:00.000-05:00

Come and listen to a story bout a man named Joe
A poor son of Abe whose betrothed began to show
And then while asleep an angel told him what was done
Your wife the virgin Mary will deliver you a son
     Jesus, that is, Immanuel, God with us.

Well the first thing you know ole Joe's a little scared
A census will be taken Caesar Augustus declared
So Joe said, I gotta go to register my fam
So he loaded up his donkey and they moved to Bethlehem
     of Judea, that is, cattle stalls, shining stars.

Well now it's time to say bye to this merry Christmas scene
The church would like to thank some folks for kindly droppin' in
You're all invited back next year to this locality
But we wish you'd give your heart to Christ and join our family
     believers, that is, in Christ the Lord, be born again.

He's coming back now, ya hear?

Pregnant with Humility

2011-09-22T21:09:00.000-04:00

I wrote the following a few years ago but am reminded of these thoughts again while preparing to enjoy a fourth granddaughter in February.

Please keep in mind that we are trying to wrap our minds around the meaning of humility. I do not want to offend the reader. I am far too humble to intentionally offend. The example I am about to give is probably a man’s twisted perspective. Please accept it as merely another attempt at identifying humility. True humility makes an individual attractive and pleasing, which I think is why an expectant woman is that for me. I have wondered why I am so enchanted with and delighted by the sight of one who is pregnant. It is, I think, because she is so perfectly the picture of humility. She humbly sacrifices her shapeliness, her comfort, various vices, foods and activities, modesty and mobility, focusing her total self on the health and well-being on an unseen border, and all of this for nine long pregnant months. No matter how much she may prefer privacy, her transformation into a swollen, bulging, baby basket is a public event. With a perpetually humble smile she waddles like a duck and perches like Humpty-Dumpty. Nora Ephron said, "If pregnancy were a book, they would cut the last two chapters." It is in the last two months, however, that the little one teaches the much bigger one more lessons in humility.

It has been told that Marie Antoinette informed King Louis XVI of France that she was pregnant with these words. "I have come, Sire, to complain of one of your subjects who has been so audacious as to kick me in the belly." Punches and kicks from within are generally met with soft words and tummy rubs as mom's humble character adorns her like a gorgeous gown. She is wonderfully beastly. She is grotesquely beautiful. She is dazzlingly disfigured. She is lovely. We enjoy the humility we see in her self-sacrifice to become a conduit through which God will send a new person into the world. It is a complete lack of humility by which some women choose to terminate their pregnancies, claiming their rights and freedom to choose. Pride and self-centeredness reject the acceptance of responsibility to allow another life to take control of body and future. Thus, the choice to lay aside self-interests and bring about the birth of a child, accentuates the presence of a spirit of humility in the soon-to-be mom. The humble woman submits to the creator who is the giver of all life and, much like the mother of our Lord, she accepts the course that is set with this humble resignation, “Behold, the bond-slave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Humility is Tiring

2011-05-16T22:29:00.001-04:00

If you practice humility, you probably understand my sentiment. There are moments when being humble makes one weary. Humility involves holding others with high regard even when they don't reciprocate. It means swallowing pride even when there is nothing tasty with which to wash it down. It means maintaining good manners and civility and all with an attitude of kindness and sincerity. We are humble because we want to be, and we know it is what Jesus calls us to be. But, sometimes I would like to push the pedal to the floor and run over every person in my path. I think it would feel good to get out my Indiana Jones bullwhip to slash and snap at anyone who comes near. Like an animal tamer in a cage of lions and tigers I would hollar, "back! back! back you beasts!" Of course, if I let myself go wild, the first person I would hurt would be some poor, helpless, purely humble individual who least deserves my wrath. And then I would fail to get a single ounce of pleasure from my tirade . . . and humility would shame me for a while . . . and remind me that pride deceives and brings dishonor. The weariness of humility is always more rewarding and satisfying than the payoff of pride. "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." (Galatians 6:9)

Flattery

2009-05-18T18:28:00.002-04:00

What is the humble way to receive a compliment? Do we reject the compliment? Do we insist the compliment is undeserved? How do we receive it without being prideful? We may think that accepting the compliment is conceit and the only humble response is to dismiss it. We think that way because we have wrongly defined humility as self-denial. Humility is unselfishness, not self repudiation. A compliment can be accepted with gracious appreciation free of self-admiration. It can be opportunity to encourage or discourage the kind flatterer. Which is the most humble reaction to applause and the most loving? “Stop it, give your approval to someone else, your estimation of me is incorrect.” Or, “You are so kind to award me with your approval, you are very sweet to do so.” The second response rewards the person for kindness. The first response discredits the person’s observations. Humility doesn’t solicit attention and praise, but also doesn’t imagine self as lacking noteworthy abilities or character. Our comeback to kudos will convey a spirit of humility by a gentle and courteous answer. Thank you is never out of order for the humble.

High Humility

2009-05-04T20:40:00.001-04:00

If we can’t take pride in our accomplishments, what is the payoff? Does remaining humble when we achieve, reduce the benefit of the achievement and consequently lower our motivation for future success? The answer to both of these questions depends on the reasons for our efforts. Do we work and perform only so we can gloat and brag? Do we set the bar high just so that we have reason to think more highly of ourselves and can inflate our egos? Surely there are better reasons to set goals and climb ladders. If our only profit in prosperity is personal pride, then our only hope for humility is failure. If the purpose of our aspirations is for God’s glory and to serve others, then every victory is celebrated without selfish thought. We can excel and exceed without conceit. We can be humble on the top of the ladder. Humility is the enemy of pride, not the enemy of winning. We are to be on guard against arrogance, not in fear of first place. Humility is opposed to self-centeredness, not to successfulness.

Isaiah's Experience

2009-04-20T19:54:00.001-04:00

The prophet Isaiah’s personal experience with God, recorded in chapter six, provides insight to elements involved in our humility before God. The story enables us to understand the process involved in humbling ourselves before God. The process is more an encounter than an exercise of human will. We are not merely being humble, we are turning toward the Lord. Humbling ourselves involves standing in right relationship before God’s throne. Just as was true for Isaiah , real humility takes place when we have:
A collision with God’s awesomeness,
A vision of God’s holiness,
An admission of utter filthiness,
The elation of God’s forgiveness,
Attention to God’s voiced address,
The question of our willingness,
A call on mission for God’s graciousness,
A Christian filled with humble eagerness,
Commissioned as God’s ordained evangelist.

Timothy!!!

2009-04-13T20:31:00.002-04:00

I wonder about Paul’s child in the faith, Timothy, if he suffered from a misunderstanding of humility. I wonder because of certain personal instructions Paul gives in the two letters addressed to Timothy. Christians sometimes think that humility means to be passive, unassertive, and even inactive. They think humbleness means non-resistance. If that is what Timothy thought then we can understand some of the coaching Paul gave him. Paul urged in his first letter, “This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight (1:18). Paul ended the letter with the same urging, “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, . . .” (6:12). The second letter to Timothy immediately picks up this same theme. “God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline”(1:7). In the second chapter of that letter he calls upon Timothy to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2:1), and then calls for him to “suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2:3). Paul finishes the second letter with further instruction for Timothy to operate from a position of confident strength. “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (4:1-2).

Another misunderstanding by Christians is that humility requires that we forgo achievement, initiative, and excellence. Once again, I suspect Timothy needed Paul to teach him that humility does not mean that. Paul clearly describes humble behavior throughout both letters to Timothy, but has a need to challenge Timothy to step up to the plate and knock a homerun. In the first letter Paul says, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather . . . show yourself an example of those who believe” (4:12). He follows that with: “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (4:16). In his second letter Paul admonishes, “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed” (2:15).

Paul was an humble man and taught Timothy by word and example how to be humble. It seems to me, though, he had to help Timothy understand these two things about humility. The unselfish, devoted, humble life for a bond-slave of Jesus Christ is not one of weakness and failure. It is a life of strength and diligence. I trust Paul will forgive me if I put unintended words into his mouth. But, I can almost hear him firmly speaking to Timothy: get your lazy self up, stop listening to foolishness (2:2:23), stop doubting your calling and God’s gift within you, “endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry!”(2:4:5). It is a lesson many need to be taught about the humble life.

H is for . . .

2009-03-30T20:14:00.003-04:00

H is for the HELP you give your neighbor,
U UNSELFISHNESS that knows enough,
M is for your MEEK and MILD behavior,
B is for the BIBLE that you love,
L because you’re LEANING on the Savior,
E is for EXALTING God above.
Put them all together they spell HUMBLE,
Humble as a lamb, a child, a DOVE

by Norman Drummond

Humble Identity

2009-03-23T20:47:00.002-04:00

There seems to be an incongruity between the importance of humility in the Bible and the importance given it by the church. I contend that humble should be heralded as who believers are. If church mottos are attempts at defining who or what visitors will find within our walls, they make my point that humility is not high on our list of what identifies us. A list of popular church mottos reveals the lack of reference to “humble.”

Many mottos express the message: “we care about you.” Join our church and it is “the end of your search for a friendly church.” It is expressed by some with, “Always a Place For You.” Some churches simply claim they are, “A People Who Care.” Maybe this is all based on the belief that people don’t care what you know until they know that you care.

Another focus of church mottos is the idea of “community.” Their purpose is “Building a Community of Grace.” Some alliteration makes the motto more meaningful and monumental: “A Place to Believe, Belong, and Become.” I like the warmth in this motto: “Large Enough to Serve You, Small Enough to Know You.”

One of the more popular ideas churches desire to convey in their motto is that of “growth.” Churches proudly hale: “A Growing Church Serving A Growing Community.” Even if that was never true, the church will put it on the bulletin every week. A motto that unites the two ideas of community and growth is the phrase, “Growing Together.” For me, that conjures up pictures that I am sure were not intended. The motto I most enjoy belonged to a church with a cemetery behind it. “Dead Out Back, Alive Inside.”

The messages of some mottos seem intentionally vague and lacking substance, like this one: “Rooted, Relevant and Real.” I have poked fun at one local church’s motto that states its name followed with, “A Good Idea!” A better motto might be: “You Should Come, It’s Not That Bad.” Why don’t we be a little more ambiguous by adopting the motto: “Watch Out!”

Latin phrases make good mottos. It is too bad the Marines took the phrase “Semper fidelis” (always faithful). That would make a great church motto. A church with a powerful evening worship could add a twist to another well known Latin phrase with, “Carpe noctum! (Seize the night). How about this for a good Baptist church: “Veni, Vidi, Dormivi” (I came, I saw, I slept). A great motto for the contemporary church is: “Ventis secundis, tene cursum” (Go with the flow).

Where are the mottos that place value on humility. Allow me to offer a few. Alliteration: “Holy, Happy and Humble.” Caring: “We Ain’t Too Proud To Serve You?” Community: “Our Humility Brings Us Together.” Growth: “Big Enough To Be Humble.” Ambiguous: “Who? Me?” Latin: "Quidvis Recte Factum Quamvis Humile Praeclarum" (Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble). I must offer just two more possibly great mottos. “Come on in, but leave your pride at the door.” Or, “We’re Not Proud, Seriously!”

One Might Imagine

2009-03-16T19:06:00.000-04:00

The single greatest myth is so far from controversial conclusions that one might imagine consequences to be nil. Faced with many faceted foils and spoils from past delusions, greatness abounds with milk and mud. We merely think we can glimpse the horizon. It probably imagines it can glimpse back. On and on again, society cruises to a fault without a simpleton to spare. Where? One can only hope. When? Maybe we can salvage some of it. Forests are filled with wooden soldiers dripping with honey, hopping to the tune of a dead horse. Mountains rise above the groans of lace upon crutches. Cinders overwhelm the strength of the whiskerless frog. All that is left is the dying of the solace as the fool tries to decipher my words. The humble man can accept that not everything has meaning. (Please forgive my foolishness. I sense April 1st drawing nigh.)

Unselfish Days

2009-03-09T18:28:00.002-04:00

It is my contention that humility is a spirit of selflessness while pride is the spirit of selfishness. A test of humility is a test to find evidence of unselfish behavior. A nineteenth century novelist and poet named Mary Anne Evans wrote a poem that invites us to view our day from this perspective. She is better known by her nom de plume George Eliot and her novel Silas Marner. Here is her poem titled, Count That Day Lost.

If you sit down at set of sun
And count the acts that you have done,
And, counting, find
One self-denying deed, one word
That eased the heart of him who heard,
One glance most kind
That fell like sunshine where it went –
Then you may count that day well spent.

But if, through all the livelong day,
You’ve cheered no heart, by yea or nay –
If, through it all
You’ve nothing done that you can trace
That brought the sunshine to one face –
No act most small
That helped some soul and nothing cost –
Then count that day as worse than lost.

I think I could interpret this to say: "a day without humility is like a day without sunshine." Those looking forward to an humble man's company might easily say of his arrival: "here comes the sun."

A Humilitarized Zone

2009-02-23T20:00:00.001-05:00

Have you ever been in a room of people where everyone present, including yourself, were being humble? You all treated each other with extreme respect and were more interested in others than yourselves? Everyone was soft spoken and it felt like no one was being judged? Have you ever been in that kind of humble environment where you were totally unconcerned about what others were thinking about you and completely enthralled by those in the room with you? Can you remember a time when you were caring so much about people you were with that you didn’t do any analyzing, second guessing, interrupting, attempting to please and impress, or playing games? You didn’t care if anyone listened to you, laughed at your story, or noticed you? What a sane and peaceful time that would be; to bask in the warmth of selflessness; to bath in the serenity of humility. Have you ever been there, in an estrogen and testosterone free room, in a place far from vanity and pride? Have you ever enjoyed the company of people with no wood or plastic, only tender flesh untainted by gall? Were you ever a part of a mild-mannered meeting of genuinely meek and gracious men and women having no agenda, nothing to gain, and not needing to be petted or praised? Have you been in the midst of a humilitarized zone like this unassisted by drugs, alcohol, or lack of sleep and not on the top floor of a hospital? Me either.

Sickness and Death

2009-02-16T21:52:00.000-05:00

Sickness and death can be greeted with humility or with angry and pernicious pride. The prideful one asks “Why me, Lord?” while the humble one asks “Is that you, Lord?” When suffering comes, pride asks, “What did I do to deserve this?” while humility asks, “How Lord will you use this for your glory?” We recognize a prideful response when every sentence is full of “I.” The humble response is full of “Thy.” Sadly, the prideful man faces sickness and death with unrest, resentment, and feelings of loss. The humble man faces the same circumstances with peace, contentment, and feeling embraced. Disease and death are defeat and loss of pride for the proud. Humility accepts them as part of God’s plan to reveal His power, glory, faithfulness and trustworthiness. The humble man doesn’t love sickness and death anymore that the prideful man does. But, the humble man isn’t afraid when they come knocking. The prideful one may find his faith shaken by suffering. The humble one discovers in the midst of suffering his faith grows stronger.

If there is pain, distress, misery, affliction;
Don’t add to your plight a big “I me” addiction.
Humble yourself as in all situations;
God is near, be prepared for some new revelations.

Listen To Your Critics

2009-02-09T19:17:00.005-05:00

It is not only okay to listen to your critics, it is wise to do so. There are many things which benefit you to hear that you will never hear from friends and supporters. Valuable things. Friends won’t tell you that your breathe stinks, that your ideas stink, or that your advisors stink. They may not even tell you that your fly is open. Those are things your critics don’t mind telling you. You could be about to make a disastrous decision and not know it if you only listen to friends. I have known commanding officers who were so intent on hearing only positive feedback that they were eventually caught off guard by reality.

The kingdom of Israel was divided into Israel and Judah because Solomon’s son Rehoboam would not listen. “But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him.” (1 Kings 12:8) Balaam learned that good advice comes sometimes from a donkey. (Numbers 22:22-33) Solomon’s wisdom tells us, “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22) To get one point of view you only need one counselor. If everyone to whom you listen agrees with you, there has been very little counsel received. Only after you have heard many counselors with both positive and critical advice, are you prepared to make the best decision.

It is pride that gets in the way of good decision making. Pride wants to ignore the complainer, attacker, disputer, doubter, commentator, and pundit. Humility allows the words of even the harshest opponent to stand beside words from friends and make their claim. Humility judges the words on their merit, not upon who delivered them or how they were delivered. Pride can’t do that. Pride resists recommendations that conflict with one’s own pet opinions. That resistance can sometimes be one’s downfall. Humility is not afraid to agree with what was initially unthinkable. It is the humble mind that is open and the prideful one that is closed. My prayer is that our President and both political parties in both houses of Congress will be humble in their decision making. Only then do Americans stand a chance of reaping the results of the wisest decisions coming from Washington.

Deadly Sin

2009-02-02T19:30:00.002-05:00

The extreme importance of humility in the life of a Christ follower is illustrated by the extreme danger of pride, the nemesis of humble living. At an early stage in the life of the church it was necessary for church leadership to identify the seriousness of various moral faults. This ultimately gave rise to what is called the seven deadly sins. These are root sins. They represent the basic fleshly instincts which give rise to other sins. They are: pride, greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth.

St.Jerome was a Christian priest known for translating the Vulgate, an early Fifth Century version of the Bible in Latin. He wrote: "There are venial sins and there are mortal sins. It is one thing to owe ten thousand talents, another to owe but a farthing. We shall have to give an accounting for an idle word no less than for adultery. But to be made to blush and to be tortured are not the same thing; not the same thing to grow red in the face and to be in agony for a long time. . . . If we entreat for lesser sins we are granted pardon, but for greater sins, it is difficult to obtain our request. There is a great difference between one sin and another" (Against Jovinian 2:30 [A.D. 393]).

My definition of “deadly sin” is: An extremely dangerous sin because it takes root in the heart and mind and is the enemy of godliness. It is a sin which, by its subtle and seemingly innocent nature, slowly and without notice suspends spiritual growth, spoils the spiritual fruit, and sucks the spiritual life out of the believer. It is a spark that leads to an uncontrollable fire. From it springs a multitude of sinful actions.

In The Parsons Tale of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales the parson explains, “the root of these seven sins is pride, which is the general root of all evils; . . . And though it be true that no man can absolutely tell the number of the twigs and of the evil branches that spring from pride, yet will I show forth an number of them, as you shall understand. There are disobedience, boasting, hypocrisy, scorn, arrogance, impudence, swelling of the heart, insolence, elation, impatience, strife, contumacy, presumption, irreverence, obstinacy, vainglory and many another twig that I cannot declare.”

Pride has been called “omnium peccatorium mater” which means “the mother of all sins.” It’s end is to be feared and it’s beginning must be greeted with the same. The antidote, humility, must be swallowed quickly and then a healthy portion of it smeared on head and chest until all symptoms of pride are erased. Our prayer should be, “Lord if I have not the moral strength to choose and to be humble, destroy the pride in me and keep me humble by Thy great power. Amen.”

You Might Be Humble If . . .

2009-01-26T20:01:00.003-05:00

I tried this once before. Let’s examine the question, “You might be humble if. . .” Is that a question? The question is, “how do you complete that sentence?” Here goes.

You might be humble if you had a choice between attending the funeral of someone you barely knew or spending the day walking through an antique mall and you chose the first. Okay, so I chose the second, but I really didn’t know anyone who was at that funeral. So shoot me and then go to an antique mall during my funeral.

You might be humble if you found yourself arriving at the entrance to a store just ahead of an elderly woman and you paused to hold the door open for her before you entered. Of course, you may have been very humble but needed to get inside to the bathroom really, really fast and the woman was really, really, really slow.

You might be humble if you stopped at a red light behind a silver Ford Explorer which was unaware when the light changed to green and made you sit through another red light but you sat calmly refusing to honk or act unseemly. Even if you imagined yourself in a monster big-wheeler rolling your tires over the inconsiderate cell-phone talker’s SUV, you still behaved with humility.

You might be humble if you were in a theatre sitting next to a family of six, not including dad who was probably enjoying time away from his noisy, odor-some offspring, and even though you were trying to watch a movie you had been excited about seeing, you dodged popcorn and stupid questions without a scowl or growl and even patted one of the sticky children on the head not very hard as the movie ended and you departed.

You might be humble if you went through an entire Monday at work without a mention of the terribly frustrating weekend you survived and made no one aware of the heights of humbleness you climbed or the depths of humility through which you waded not wishing to call attention to the volumes of virtue from which you could elucidate but won’t.

Yeah! So there!

Rick Warren's Inauguration Prayer

2009-01-20T20:22:00.001-05:00

Here is Pastor Rick Warren’s invocation at the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States on January 20th, 2009.

Almighty God, our Father, everything we see and everything we can’t see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you. It all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory. History is your story. The scripture tells us, “Hear O Israel, The Lord is our God. The Lord is one,” and you are the compassionate and merciful one and you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now, today we rejoice, not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge-point of history with the inauguration of our first African American President of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new President Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice-President Biden, The Cabinet, and everyone of our freely elected leaders. Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all. When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you – forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone – forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve – forgive us.

And, as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes even when we differ. Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all. May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation, and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day all nations and all people will stand accountable before you.

We now commit our new President, and his wife Michelle, and his daughters Malia and Sasha, into your loving care. I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life: Yeshua, Esaa, Jesus, Jesus . . . who taught us to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

10 Most Humble Phrases

2009-01-12T21:14:00.003-05:00

Researchers at Oxford University compiled a list of the top 10 most irritating expressions.

1. At the end of the day
2. Fairly unique
3. I personally
4. At this moment in time
5. With all due respect
6. Absolutely
7. It’s a nightmare
8. Shouldn’t of
9. 24/7
10. It’s not rocket science

I personally, at this moment in time, would have included “when pigs fly” and “duuuh,” with all due respect. I, of course, am more interested in what would be the 10 most humble phrases? Here are those phrases, in my humble opinion. You may notice that I left out “I’m sorry" (because love means never saying that). I also threw out “it’s my fault” and “go ahead, I deserve it.” I attribute these phrases to low self-esteem, not humility. I would be interested to know which of these ten the reader would omit and what phrases the reader would add. I submit these after very little thought.

10. You choose, it doesn’t matter to me
9. I don’t want it, you can have it
8. Are you okay?
7. You are amazing.
6. And then what happened?
5. Please forgive me
4. What can I do to help?
3. I missed you
2. Thank you
1. God bless you.

Descend to Reascend

2009-01-05T20:45:00.003-05:00

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:5-7) In the excerpt below, C.S. Lewis describes the humility involved in this incarnation of Christ.

In the Christian story God descends to reascend. He comes down; down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity; down further still, if embryologists are right, to recapitulate in the womb ancient and prehuman phases of life; down to the very roots and seabed of the nature He had created. But he goes down to come up again and bring the whole ruined world up with Him. One has the picture of a strong man stooping lower and lower to get himself underneath some great complicated burden. He must stoop in order to lift, he must almost disappear under the load before he incredibly straightens his back and marches off with the whole mass swaying on his shoulders. Or one may think of a diver, first reducing himself to nakedness, then glancing in midair, then gone with a splash, vanished, rushing down through green and warm water into black and cold water, down through increasing pressure into the deathlike region of ooze and slime and old decay; then up again, back to color and light, his lungs almost bursting, till suddenly he breaks surface again, holding in his hand the dripping, precious thing that he went down to recover. He and it are both colored now that they have come up into the light: down below, where it lay colorless in the dark, he lost his color too.

In this descent and renascent everyone will recognize a familiar pattern; a thing written all over the world. It is the pattern of all vegetable life. It must belittle itself into something hard, small and deathlike, it must fall into the ground: thence the new life reascends. It is the pattern of all animal generation too. There is descent from the full and perfect organism into the spermatozoon and ovum, and in the dark womb a life at first inferior in kind to that of the species which is being reproduced: then the slow ascent to perfect embryo, to the living, conscious baby, and finally to the adult. . . .Through this bottleneck, this belittlement, the highroad nearly always lies.

(C.S. Lewis, The Joyful Christian)

God becoming flesh is amazing and magnificent. The highroad for the follower of Christ is always this position of humility that is willing to stoop to stand, to fall in order to rise, to lose to gain, to submit in order to subdue, to be lowly so that God may lift us up. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, . . . (1 Peter 5:6)

Church Bats

2008-12-29T20:09:00.003-05:00

Sunday’s guest preacher had to cope with a bat flying overhead and a congregation of bat gazers.

Each unique moment becomes an opportunity to learn more about humbleness. With every event the humble person ought to ask, “How can I think and act humbly in this situation?” The quickest way to answer that is to determine if we are responding with selfish or selfless motives. If we are reacting selfishly then we are not acting humbly. If we are thinking about how circumstances are bothering me, upsetting me, inconveniencing me, worrying me, disturbing me, costing me, damaging my image, or making me look bad, then we will not be acting humbly. If we are thinking about how circumstances will affect others, harm others, discourage others, worry others, or humiliate others, then we may act out of humility. If, however, we act in a situation, out of concern for others, but hope to gain something for ourselves in the process, then our response is probably not going to be a very humble one still. It is very difficult to remove consideration for self from our thinking and acting.

As I sat in the audience completely horrified at what I was witnessing, my first response was to pray, “Please dear God, give that bat a massive heart attack. Now!” I then did that thing where you stare intently at the object of ire expecting your glare to work like a magnifying glass, causing the bat to burst into flames, or something. It didn’t. Next, I imagined myself running across the top of congregate’s heads like a China-man in “Crouching Dragon, Hidden Tiger” until I soared upward and snatched the bat out of thin air. It would be awesome if I could do something cool to fix our bat problem. It wouldn’t be very humble though. Living for Christ isn’t about being cool or awesome. It is about being a bond-servant for Jesus and loving those whom God created and loves.

In my desire to destroy the bothersome bat, I failed to recognize the flying interference as a work of wonder by Almighty God. An humble reaction to this unusual happening might be to absorb the sermon, while appreciating all God’s creatures to include the only one present with the gift of self-levitation. After all, if I destroy this distraction, what happens next week when I am the cause of the commotion? Humility involves valuing life regardless of how that life may interfere with my plans, my path, or my peace. Our pride wants to dismiss some life as unworthy of our love. Our humility enables us to reach out to the most detestable, despicable and distasteful lives around us, and care about them . . . even if they should fly over and poop on our head. That would be another opportunity to learn more about being humble.

Legend Of Babushka

2008-12-22T21:57:00.002-05:00

Babushka is the Russian word for grandmother or “old woman.” There is a Christmas legend in which the main character is named Babushka.

One cold winter night in her house safe and warm, came a knock then a voice, “we mean you no harm.” She opened the door and invited in - some travelers on camels, three richly clothed men. They needed a moment to rest and retreat, and maybe a drink and a little to eat. Babushka welcomed them and while serving a small feast, she learned they were looking for a small town to the East. They told of a star that was leading the way to the place where a special baby king lay. The men were so grateful for Babushka’s great kindness, they invited her, “come, you can travel behind us.” Babushka did not want to leave her warm home, and the men journeyed on leaving her all alone. That night she grew sad dreaming of the baby boy. She decided to find him and bring him a toy. She got out of bed and she packed up her things, and set out on foot to find the three kings. She went through each village asking “where did they go?” as she followed the path of the men in the snow. Babushka travelled for weeks till she found, the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem town. But, the three men were gone and also the baby. Babushka went on searching, thinking soon maybe, she could finally deliver a simple child toy to the very special little baby king boy. Babushka still travels according to folklore, in search of the Christ child she longs to adore. In town after town, in each crib she peers, asking mothers and dads, “is he here? Is he here?” And with each child she finds, be they girl or boy, she leaves in their bed a little child’s toy.

The legend of Babushka is an interesting little fabricated story to explain why children get presents at Christmas. How sad to think that someone would travel through life and never know the Savior. How sad, also, to think that Christmas is only about children getting gifts. We do not have to seek for the Christ. He has come. He is here. Let us worship and adore Him. Let us receive Him as Savior and King.

The Birth Of Jesus

2008-12-15T20:58:00.002-05:00

It feels a little like we are disrespecting God when we describe His humanness and humbleness at birth. God incarnate was intentionally incarnatized as a baby. We have a hard time accepting the unvarnished vision of that. Are you offended by the idea of the Powerful Potentate in poopie pants? I don’t believe God was offended. After all, He created the whole child-bearing process. He was born via the birth canal of a woman. He cried. He wet his swaddling cloths (definition: cloths intended for swaddling). And, yes, he passed gas and a whole lot more. I think we need to accept all of the birth stuff: nine months of womb life, labor pains, blood, placenta, dirty diapers, breast-feeding in the middle of the night, crying, screaming, goo-ing and cooing. Amazing! God with us. Jesus is born in Bethlehem.

The terribly vulgar and incredibly stupid Ricky Bobby in the movie Talladega Nights explained to his complaining wife, “I like the Christmas Jesus best and I’m saying grace. When you say grace you can say it to grown up Jesus, or teenage Jesus, or bearded Jesus.” He began his prayer at dinner, “Dear Lord Baby Jesus.” No Ricky Bobby. When you pray, you must pray to the risen Lord. It is upon His authority as the one who paid the price for our sin through his death on the cross, and rose from the grave conquering death, that we who receive Him as Savior and Lord, have the privilege of addressing the Father in His name. As long as we understand that, we can muse over Ricky Bobby’s “tiny infant Jesus” prayer. After others at the table interrupted his prayer, he started over with this: “Dear Baby Jesus, in your golden fleece diapers with your tiny little balled-up fist.” After another interruption, he tried again: “Dear 8 pound 6 ounce newborn, infant Jesus . . . don’t even know a word . . . just a little infant so cuddly, but still omnipotent. . . . Thank you for all your power and grace, dear baby God, Amen.”

Blasphemous? In the context and spirit of the movie, I would call it very distasteful. But, as a child of God who is awed and amazed by the humility of the birth of God’s son, I choose to enjoy the playfulness of it. Almighty God, whom I love with all my heart, became a baby in the same painful, rude, traumatizing, yet wonderfully exciting family experience that you and I had. The writer of Hebrews tells it like this. “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15-16)

The Humble Season

2008-12-08T21:18:00.002-05:00

Christmas is a very humble season. It is a time to gather all of our family around us and celebrate the blessings of kinship. We go from celebration to celebration to enjoy our children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, parents and grandparents, uncles and aunts. There is merry laughter (I would say gay laughter but . . .). We have warm fire places and cold drinks. Life is good, just like the very first Christmas when Mary and Joseph and Jesus, . . . and sheep, . . . and those persons who didn’t have room, . . . and maybe a sheep dog . . .

It is a very humble season. I love Christmas. I put strings of lights on the house, in the yard, and on the tree. My wife and I drive around the neighborhoods to see lots of houses with red, green, blue, white, and red, and green lights and stuff. There are light-up reindeer, and wreathes, and Mickey Mouse, and Winnie Pooh, and light-up manger scenes that remind us of that first Christmas when Mary and Joseph and Jesus had . . . a star . . . and maybe a lamp . . . and light in the window of that inn . . .

The humble season of Christmas is expressed with gifts. I remember one year getting a toy shotgun and rabbit that ran on batteries. It was great until the rabbit ended up on the floor furnace. But, Christmases are made up of memories of special gifts all wrapped up in beautiful paper and ribbon. Lots and lots of present getting and giving is what makes Christmas special, just like that first Christmas when the wisemen brought the baby Jesus some great gifts, even if they were about a year late, . . . and just before all of those babies were killed.

Maybe the most humble moment of Christmas is when we set aside the “twas the night before Christmas” and pick up the Bible; when we get still and stop thinking about ourselves to listen to someone read from Luke chapter two. “When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us. So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.” It is when our eyes become misty upon hearing again the wonderful story of God’s great love, and for a brief moment we can’t see the lights and the gifts and even family members next to us, but only see Christ, that the humble season of Christmas is filled with real joy, and The Light, and the greatest gift ever.

The Christmas Story

2008-12-01T21:42:00.003-05:00

What Christian characteristic is most celebrated in the Christmas story? There are three.

Joy: “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.”
Peace: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men.”
Love: “For God so loved the world that He sent His Son.”

It is about these three that all the Christmas songs, cards, sermons, and decorations celebrate.

What Christian character is least celebrated at Christmas? Humility
What Christian character is most represented? Humility
What Godly characteristic is most evident? Humility

Philippians 2:3-8 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interest of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Jesus was not born in a prestigious town.
His mother and father were not high society.
He did not enter the world in robes of purple.
He did not carry a jeweled scepter.
He did not come to us in gleaming glory.
He did not burst on to the scenes of history riding a white horse.
He was not escorted by the wealthy or powerful.
He did not achieve, acquire, triumph, or climb the ladder of success.
He had no long life to leave a legacy.
When taken to court, no high priced lawyers defended Him.
When sentenced he received no leniency.
His death was not heroic, daring, or noble.

He was born
In a little town called Bethlehem,
To a virgin,
And a carpenter,
In a cave,
Surrounded by hay and stars,
And welcomed by shepherds.
Later welcomed by a few unknown wisemen from a foreign country.
For His first birthday soldiers killed all the male babies two years old and younger.
He grew up as a redneck from Galilee,
Became an itinerate preacher,
Surrounded himself with fishermen and outcasts,
And was on the public scene only briefly.
Ultimately, His followers deserted Him.
Liars and schemers had him arrested, tried, and convicted.
He was publicly whipped and beaten mercilessly.
While waiting his execution, he was rideculed and rudely mistreated.
He was forced to carry the instrument of his death through the streets.
He was hung as a criminal on a cross.
Even while dying, he was mocked and tormented.

Humility was evident from the Godhead, to the manger, in Galilee, in His gospel, entering the Golden Gate, in the grape juice, in the Garden, in the synagogue, at Golgotha, and the grave.

1 Peter 1:18-19 "Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."

That which purchased our salvation was humble blood, offered humbly upon a cross, by God who humbly stepped away from His throne to humbly express His unconditional love for sinners, through an act of humble sacrifice, providing the price for sin which his holy character required.

It Is Hard To Be Humble . . .

2008-11-24T21:27:00.001-05:00

When looking at a Hairless Chinese Crested dog
When looking in a mirror
When looking at a chocolate fountain
While holding your grandchild
While holding a taser
While holding four aces
After catching an 8 pound bass
After catching the thief who grabbed your wife’s purse
After catching the bouquet
While driving a Corvette
While driving a Fire Truck
While driving a Zamboni
When standing next to a movie star
When standing next to an elephant
When standing next to a chocolate fountain
After taking a long vacation
After taking a natural male enhancer
After taking the last piece of pie
When wearing a custom made, silk, three piece suit
When wearing an Elvis jumpsuit
When wearing your birthday suit
While in charge
While in a hot tub
While in a chocolate fountain
While buying a banana split
While buying Boardwalk
While buying domain names
After completing an obstacle course
After completing a rubix cube
After completing Fable 2
With a mohawk
With a monocle
With a mocha latte

Just because it’s hard to be humble, doesn’t excuse you from trying.

Broken Bread And Poured-Out Wine

2008-11-17T20:05:00.003-05:00

There is a beautiful representation of humility found as a reoccurring theme in the well-known devotional, “My Utmost For His Highest.” Oswald Chambers calls upon Christians to become “broken bread and poured-out wine.” Learning what that means will give us insights into the humble life. Here are excerpts from Ozzy.

Jan 18: It is easier to serve than to pour out our lives completely for Him. The goal of the call of God is His satisfaction, not simply that we should do something for Him.

Feb 2: God makes us as broken bread and poured-out wine to please Himself. To be “separated to the gospel” means . . . every ambition, every desire of life, and every outlook is completely blotted out and extinguished. Only one thing remains – “. . . separated to the gospel.”

Feb 15: Am I willing to be broken bread and poured-out wine for Him? Am I willing to be of no value to this age or this life except for one purpose and one alone – to be used to disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Feb 25: Paul focused his live on Jesus Christ’s idea of a New Testament saint; that is, not one who merely proclaims the gospel, but one who becomes broken bread and poured-out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for the sake of others.

May 15: The only proper goal of life is that we manifest the Son of God; and when this occurs, all our dictating of our demands to God disappears. We are here to submit to His will so that He may work through us what He wants. Once we realize this, He will make us broken bread and poured-out wine with which to feed and nourish others.

Jun 2: How long is it going to take God to free us from the unhealthy habit of thinking only about ourselves? . . . There is only one place where we are right with God, and that is in Christ Jesus. Once we are there, we have to pour out our lives for all we are worth in this ministry of the inner life.

Jul 15: Quit praying about yourself and spend your life for the sake of others as the bondservant of Jesus. That is the true meaning of being broken bread and poured-out wine in real life.

Sep 30: “Here am I! Send me.” This call has to do with being made broken bread and poured-out wine. Yet we must never try to choose the place of our own martyrdom. If we are ever going to be made into wine, we have to be crushed. . .

Nov 15: When we are consciously aware of being used as broken bread and poured-out wine, we have yet another level to reach – a level where all awareness of ourselves and of what God is doing through us is completely eliminated. A saint is never consciously a saint – a saint is consciously dependent on God.

Boasting About Tomorrow

2008-11-11T11:28:00.003-05:00

There may be something we can learn about humbling ourselves from those occasions when we are humbled by circumstances. I have often said that being made humble does not count for character. When our pride gets knocked down by some extremely stupid and embarrassing mistake, or when we get cut off at the knees by someone who far excels in something with which we were prideful, we are humbled. We did not choose in this case to be humble. We merely suffered a loss of pride. When our cause for pride is taken away by an economic crisis that guts our investment port folio, or a company crisis that results in our demotion or loss of job, then we are made humble. We have not achieved humility out of desire to be virtuous.

We may be able, in those humbling experiences, to learn how to be humble when later we can choose it. One lesson we might learn is how little we can take credit for the things over which we swell with pride and how little control over our circumstances we actually have. The athlete who excels today could tomorrow be a paraplegic. The business owner today could tomorrow be the janitor. The bountiful crops today could tomorrow suffer drought. The mansion today could tomorrow be in ashes. The great nation today could tomorrow be in ruins. Whatever we enjoy today should be counted as a blessing, not cause for boasting. “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” (Proverbs 27:1)

In the New Testament book of James, after his instruction, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you,” James then gives to us this council. “Come now, you who say, ‘today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’ But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil." No matter our circumstances, whether rich or poor, powerful or weak, smooth sailing or ship-wrecked, we must choose to be humble. “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ . . .” (Galatians 6:14)

Sometimes I . . .

2008-11-03T21:03:00.001-05:00

Sometimes I don’t feel like bowing to the demands of humility. I get angry at arrogance around me. I have grown tired of apathy and laziness. My contempt for insolent people has resulted in my own rude behavior. I find myself ignoring those who are ignorant. I get fed up with fat people. People who are materialistic don’t really even matter to me. The mentally unstable drive me crazy. Those who are Immature make me want to cry. I can’t get along with combative people. Selfish people make me want to leave them completely out of my world. I wish those people who always obey the speed limit would get a ticket. When I am around confused people I want to mess with their minds. Impatient people make me antsy. I can not bear the Intolerant. People with phobias just scare me. People with demons scare the devil out of me. I don’t know what to think about blonds. People who read are alright in my book. I try to disguise my expressions when around ugly people. It’s easy to overlook short people. I have very little use for the unproductive. I go back and forth on people who can’t make up their minds. I go back and forth when people won’t hurry up in the bathroom. I could tell you what I think about liars but it wouldn’t be the whole truth. I don’t know how to read the illiterate. I can’t talk with the highly intelligent. I’m always complaining about whiners. People in the hospital make me sick. People in jail make me want to escape. Kin folk are like family to me. Anything I would say about them would be relative. I’m hot and cold when it comes to moody people. I can’t say enough to gluttons. I can’t seem to say enough to this ranting. Enough! Well . . . I guess I can.

Humility, Gentleness, and Also Patience

2008-10-28T20:08:00.006-04:00

An argument starts, Or just continues,
Breaking hearts and bones and sinews.
No pause for civil problem solving
No notice of the love dissolving
Curse the pride that fans the fire.
Curse the ever deepening mire.
Three things conquer pride’s creations:
Humility , gentleness and also patience.

One drink began a loathsome journey
Ending on a cold basement gurney.
No cry for help, no quiet contrition,
No addiction to alcohol admission.
Curse the pride that hides the pain.
Curse the choice to die in vein.
Three things break up pride’s fixations:
Humility, gentleness and also patience.

Lust for power, wealth and pleasure,
Successful living by man’s measure.
No need to reach up for God’s hand.
No rock foundation, only sand.
Curse the pride that drives man’s greed.
Curse the sad self-centered creed.
Three things silence life’s flirtations:
Humility, gentleness and also patience.

When pride arrives, disgrace comes too. (Proverbs 11:2)
The pride of heart always deceives you. (Jeremiah 49:16)
Pride breeds quarrels, precedes a fall. (Proverbs 13:10; 16:18)
It doesn’t leave God any room at all. (Psalm 10:4)
God hates the arrogant, hates the proud. (Proverbs 8:3)
God hates and will punish this woeful crowd. (Proverbs 16:5)
Three things lacking across the nations:
Humility, gentleness and also patience.

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;" (Colossians 3:12)

"Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience," (Ephesians 4:1-2)

True Heroes

2008-10-20T21:18:00.001-04:00

In conflict or battle,
With life and limb threatened,
How are we humble to be?
Do taking up arms and
Defending one’s freedom
Erase our humility?

Humble as victors
Or humbly surrender;
To win is the preference for me.
Can we take on opponents
With formidable force
Without loss of humility?

Humbleness isn’t
Defined as unguarded,
As cowardly, sickly, or wimpy.
It is disciplined strength,
With unselfish intention,
True heroes have humility.

The Humility Poll

2008-10-14T21:47:00.003-04:00

Okay. So you’re having a conversation and you are trying to be humblesome. How are you doing? Make a speedy personal appraisal of your deportment using this checklist.

Is at least 40 percent of the conversation not about me?
Am I showing any interest in what others are saying?
Have I relinquished control of the conversation?
Have there been periods of 2 to 3 minutes when I said nothing?
Am I responding with proper emotion to what others are saying? (i.e., joy, surprise, righteous indignation)
Has my body language communicated positively? (i.e., nods, winks, smiles, the motion Italians make with their fingers to their lips when something is especially tasty)
Have I avoided negative body language? (i.e., staring at the ceiling, arms crossed like a referee’s delay of game penalty, fingers shaped like an “L” placed on the forehead)
Have I extended any compliment, praise, thanks, or offers to assist?
Have I carefully limited unsolicited advice?
Have I observed the traffic signs displayed by others in the conversation? (i.e., stop, go, yield, time out, slow children, quiet zone, personal space: do not come any closer!)

If you can answer “Yes” to all of these you are most humble, indeed. Keep it up. Humility will win friends and rob your enemies of ammunition. If you answered “No” to any one of these, you have a problem. Examine each question for which you answered “No.” You now have the wonderful opportunity to grow in your humility and to correct a flaw which others could see but no one has been brave enough to show you.

Charisma

2008-09-29T21:03:00.007-04:00

John Maxwell says the quality that draws other people to a leader can be summarized in one word: CHARISMA. In his book Be A People Person: Effective Leadership Through Effective Relationships, Maxwell says “the potential to be charismatic lies within each of us, but first we must remove hindrances from the development of this important personality characteristic.” The very first hindrance he gives is PRIDE. People are not drawn to someone who is arrogant and prideful. Maxwell explains that pride is a roadblock to charisma because "a prideful person will have a tendency to look down on other people."

We are not drawn to people who are full of themselves. We are, however, drawn to people who exhibit at least a little humility. People who are humble are approachable. They are touchable. They are warm and real. Those who are pride-full repel us. We aren’t sure we can trust them. We are challenged by their conceit to find a flaw, a chink in their armor. They may think they have charisma, but what they have is obnoxia.

If we are alarmed by selfishness and charmed by selflessness, what sort of persons should we want to be? If we enjoy people, want their company and want to invest our lives in them, we will learn to be humble. Humility will be among the qualities which we covet and practice. We will despise egotism and egoism when we see it in ourselves as much as we dislike it when we find it in others. We will be drawn more toward those in whom we find humility and influenced less by those with swagger and gall. We will become more honest and authentic, and finally find what Maxwell means by charisma.

The Litany of Humility

2008-09-22T20:02:00.003-04:00

Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val was a Roman Catholic Cardinal in the very early part of the 20th Century. He served as secretary of the conclave of 1903 that elected Pope Pius X. Merry del Val was a very influential Cardinal and is given credit for encouraging Pope Pius X to accept his election as Pope. Rafael was born as Rafael María José Pedro Francisco Borja Domingo Gerardo de la Santísma Trinidad Merry del Val y Zulueta. At six years of age, he learned his full name by memorizing the acrostic using his initials with the phrase, “Roman men justifying puerile foolish behavior don’t get sacraments through my vestal zone.” Actually, I made that up. As a youth he shortened his name to Rudy. Actually, I made that up too. But I didn’t make up his full name. The blame for that belongs to his mother, father, grandparents, and god-parents.

The reason I mention Cardinal Merry del Val is that he wrote the “Litany of Humility.” This popular prayer found in many prayer-books is quite good. It expresses a desire for humility of the highest degree. It makes me question the sincerity of my own wishes to be humble. I supply the prayer here for your consideration and critique.

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
Others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I,
provided that I may become as holy as I should…

My Humility List

2008-09-15T21:13:00.003-04:00

A book I enjoy leafing through now and then is titled, “List Your Self, Listmaking as the Way to Self-Discovery” by Ilene Segalove and Paul Bob Velick. It is three hundred pages of lines with the list title at the top of each page. The book touts itself as “A provocative, probing and personal expedition into your mind, heart, and soul.” That, of course, is only true if the reader (lister) probs provocatively and personally into their mind, heart and soul to create the various lists suggested. For me it is a very enjoyable exercise in personal reflection. I had fun with the, “List all the things you’ve made or built by hand.” The “List all the things you’d like to say to your mother,” was good therapy. I add to that list almost every time I pick up the book. I plan to think for a while before writing the, “List all the places you’ve been that made you feel immortal, moved to tears, or omnipotent.” The last grouping of lists in the book is called, “Suddenly.” I haven’t made any of these yet. One is called, “Suddenly you can talk to animals. List the ones you want to converse with and why.” I have a very large plecostomus. I would love to know what is on his or her mind.

If it is in the book, I haven’t found it, but, It would be interesting to make a daily list of my personal acts of humility. Today’s list would be blank. Can we claim humility if we can’t point to an act of humility? This may be similar to what The Book of James says about faith and works. “Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18) If we can’t identify an act of humility in our day’s activity, how can we consider ourselves humble? I actually planned to do something really humble today for my Humility List. The positive thing about that is I found myself searching for an opportunity to exhibit humility. That is good. The unfortunate thing about that is I didn’t accomplish a single humble act. Wait! That sounded pretty humble, didn’t it? I could put on my Humility List: I humbly admitted to a lack of humility. Maybe, with a daily admission to a lack of humility, I could learn how to be more humble. A list could help. A conscious effort to perform an act of humility, in order to have something to add to a Humility List, could encourage more Humilous behavior, thereby showing my humility by my works. Maybe I should change the list name from Humility List to “How am I Humble?, Let Me Count The Ways.”

Judging Judy

2008-09-08T20:54:00.003-04:00

The ease with which we quickly judge the stranger on the street is a testimony to the ample arrogance and pride present within us. The discipline required to avoid judging is an example of the strength and power of humility. One must be very humble to resist the urge to judge. Jesus asks, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” I think we do that because our pride views our own faults through the wrong end of a telescope while looking at the faults of others through a microscope. Pride enables us to build up ourselves by tearing down others.

Attempting to stop judging others is an exercise in humility. I’m not going to judge. I’m not going to judge. Just when I tell myself, “I’m not going to judge” a young freakish looking teenager comes in to view with his hand on the crotch of his pants to keep them from falling down. I am not going to judge. I will not judge him. I am withholding judgment. I realize that I must try to have a positive thought about the teen to draw my focus away from his humongous speck. In the midst of my moment of misery a middle aged woman appears. Oh great! This woman looks like she has been living on a diet of Pop-Tarts and Twinkies. Her hugeness is not going to cause me to judge. I am not going to judge. I cannot judge her. It’s not going to happen. Breathe deeply. Look away. Ooops! I didn’t mean for my eyes to become fixed on a co-worker with whom I have had numerous problems. I am not going to judge even though a video tape is playing countless scenes in my head. Stop the tape! I will not judge. I will not judge!!!

Children. Let’s just watch the children. They are small and sweet. There isn’t anything about them that tempts me to judge. They are playful and beautiful, most of the time. Sometimes they can be way too rowdy and loud and disrespectful. That is because their parents don’t teach them right from wrong, or they are divorced, or they never married, or they’re vegetarians. Most parents are too selfish or too lazy to give their children the kind of love and spankings they deserve. That is why children become teens with their pants around their knees, or they put on pounds and pounds of ugly flesh, or become contentious coworkers. . . . But, I am not going to judge. I’m not. I’m too humble for that.

The Enemy of Peace

2008-09-01T21:19:00.000-04:00

Pride is a great spoiler of peace and contentment. I watched a much older man than I insist on participating in work from which he could easily have been excused. Pride drives him, as it does many men and women, to attempt things which are as unnecessary as they are dangerous. A little humility would allow him to avoid injury, enjoy the peace and tranquility of old age, and resist the desire to prove “I can still do it.” Pride does the same thing to the young folk. It causes young men to refuse help or advice from their wife or mother. It causes young women to resist assistance from their husband or mother. Pride turns a harmless situation into competition. Pride keeps us on edge and guarded. Humility can un-ruffle feathers, allow the blood pressure to return to normal, and drop the defensive barriers which we so quickly erect. Pride is our enemy. It is the enemy of relationships, progress, and good health.

I know a man who drove the loop around Atlanta for three days because his pride kept him from asking for directions. Actually I don’t, . . . but it could happen. Pride doesn’t keep us from going places but it keeps us from getting places. I ate at a restaurant once because I was too proud to walk away when I realized I was at the wrong restaurant. I bought an extra item at the hardware store one day because my pride wouldn’t let me stand in line at the register with only a two dollar item. Pride makes us crazy. Have you ever dangerously driven out into traffic because you were worried what the people waiting in cars behind you might think about you if you took too long? That’s pride at work. When God demands that we become humble it is for our own good. God wants us to drop the pride and enjoy the abundant life. With pride out of the way, we can lean upon God, learn from God, and realize the peace and contentment that He has granted all who love Him and humbly trust in His Son. Proverbs 22:4 says, “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life.”

The Next President of The United States

2008-08-25T20:58:00.002-04:00

What role does humility play in a race for the White House? Does the average voter care if a candidate is overly cocky and conceited and lacks humility? Do the two very important characteristics of genuineness and authenticity require that humility be detectable? People want a president who is strong and confident but there is a point at which strength becomes meanness and confidence becomes arrogance. That line is crossed when humility is tossed aside as unimportant. Here is my prediction. Regardless of the selections Obama and McCain make for vice-presidential running mates, Americans will elect the man who maintains a level of humility that is respectable and appropriate. We admire the quality of humility in our powerful leadership. We want politicians to remember their roots and keep pride in check. We want them to remember the voters who put them in office and to accept their daily responsibilities with humbleness. We are offended when they get puffed- up and make decisions without regard to those whom they represent. We have seen far too many politicians move from nobleness to rottenness, from statesman-like to reprobate-like , and from estimable to egotistical. We fully realize that the man who shows no signs of humility during an election campaign, will not demonstrate humility later in the oval office. Past presidential elections have been won by the candidate who was the most humble. The same will happen this year. Watch the Democrat and Republican nominees from the conventions, through the debates, to the day we all go to the polls. The man who through it all is the most deficient in humility will be the man who loses. The next president of the United States will be . . . the one most humble.

I Am Embarrassed To Say So

2008-08-18T20:58:00.003-04:00

I am perfectly capable of embarrassing myself without any outside help. I can fall on my face without being pushed. I’m not bragging, I’m braying. Embarrassment is not a measurement of humility. An embarrassing moment can be an opportunity for humility. It is equally opportunity for the emergence of pride. When pride kicks in, the awkward moment becomes a foolish moment, a strange moment becomes a deranged moment, a fumble becomes a fiasco, mental clumsiness turns into mental collapse, and a boo-boo turns into pooh-pooh. There is something about an embarrassment that puts us on the defense. That something is self-centeredness and pride. Afraid of losing face, pride steps forward and makes sure we do. Afraid of injuring our ego, pride takes control and fractures our self-respect. Pride is our enemy, not our friend. When you stumble, don’t be arrogant. Be humble.

Humility will take the sting out of an embarrassing moment. Lowliness allows the observer of your mishap to have a moment of delight but inhibits the need for him to rub your nose in it. When we are humble, we can laugh at our most shameful slipups. Humility is the characteristic of not taking self too seriously. When self is not the center of our world, getting our self in a pickle is not the end of our world. Humility works wonder on a blunder. It is always the best reaction to humiliation. But, it takes discipline. It takes self-control. Pride is the reaction of the undisciplined. That ought to tell us something about the foolishness of it. Let humility be your choice and you will not only survive those occasions when one of your two left feet is in your mouth, but you will take pleasure in the taste and walk better because of it. I don’t know what that means, but because I’m humble it’s okay.

Taking A Bullet

2008-08-11T21:30:00.002-04:00

Humility involves taking a step away from self and toward another. When one is humble that can happen. Pride is self-centered and unable to detach from one’s own self-interests. The size of the step away from self will involve increasingly greater amounts of self-sacrifice. Throwing one’s self on a grenade or taking a bullet for someone reveals a courageous and heroic spirit but also requires humility. Let me qualify that statement. If the acts just mentioned are nothing more than trained or programmed reflexes, then they may not involve humility or courage or heroism. I would like to believe even hardened professional soldiers do not react from a purely programmed impulse. There must also be courage and humility present for the bravest decision to be made, even if those are also learned.

Smaller steps away from self are also commendable. Self-sacrifice, and thus humility, are required in order to bite your tongue when there is temptation to attack, allow someone else to be the center of attention, absorb unjust criticism, listen a little longer than you would like, allow someone else’s idea to eclipse your own, take the blame for someone else’s mistake, applaud something you might rather criticize, bend instead of stiffen, smile instead of scowl, agree when you have every right to disagree, and choose peace when anyone else in your shoes would start a war. None of these are easy. In fact they all demand the strength of true humility. They are all a little bit like taking a bullet or falling on a grenade. You might even say some of these situations feel like being nailed to a cross. Following Christ, as we take up our cross daily, involves learning a lot about the humility of Christ. He stepped away from himself to bear our burden. He sacrificed his life, so that we could live. “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

What Does Humility Look Like?

2008-08-04T20:01:00.003-04:00

What does an humble person look like? Some people would describe them as simple in appearance, bland colored clothing, head bowed, shoulders forward, shy and unnoticeable. When spoken to their voice is soft and answers uncertain. They have few aspirations and low energy. They lack passion and wouldn’t hurt a fly. They are usually alone and no one wants to emulate their poor, unlovely, pathetic life of humility.

It is no wonder people are not interested in pursuing the humble life when that is their vision of it. That isn’t how I see humility at all. An humble person is quietly confident; not boisterous, but not woeful either. He or she is driven to achieve that which will benefit the world. Their passion is pure and free from selfish intent. They take delight in the people around them. Their joy or sorrow reflects their compassion and concern for others. If they are unnoticed, it is because they are continually directing attention away from themselves. Their inner strength is enormous and they do not need praise or credit to pump them up. They are excited about being a part of the world, not the center of it. This is the humble person. He or she chooses a path of lowliness, not listlessness; of meekness, not meaninglessness; of gentleness, not genitallessness. They are unpretentious, not unambitious. They are reverent, not irrelevant.

Don’t believe everything you read in a dictionary or Thesaurus about the meaning of humility. Believe the Biblical models that represent for us the humble life. There are great men and women in the Bible like Noah, Naomi, Samuel, Esther, Daniel, Mary, John, Tabitha, Barnabas, the mother of Timothy, and Jesus our Lord. These are men and women from whom we can learn humility. These are men and women who can provide us a proper picture of how an humble person looks.

Moving On

2008-07-28T19:34:00.000-04:00

Pride prevents progress by keeping us from accepting help while humility sets us free to move forward with assistance. Often the question is, "how long?" How long will we let pride stand in our way? How long will it take us to admit we need help? How long will we keep doing things the same way, getting the same results? How long will we resist becoming humble? How long will we stay at the same old blog site that won't respond to my email requests to pay for more controls and goodies? How long? Three years, that's how long. I have been at www.thehumblelife.easyjournal.com for three years. It is time to become humble and accept my son-in-laws advice. I didn't want to, but, it is time to move on. So, here I am at blogspot, starting fresh with a weekly (or, weakly) blog about humility. It hurts to be humble. It hurts to accept help. It hurts very much. After three years, I am still learning about humility. Maybe in three more years I can proudly say I have arrived. But then, that would be very humble would it? Would it?!! No, I guess not. Thank you for your time.