Thanks for coming along with me on A Year of Humility.
Originally, this was a project largely brought out of a series of quotes that appeared in my social media feed. The quotes eventually seemed to disappear, which I am grateful for: it forced me to consider other aspects of humility that I might not have considered otherwise.
I suppose it has been sort of a leitmotif for Christianity for 2,000 years that we are badly in need of humility. The humility of Christ - the Son of God, descending from Heaven to become flesh and serve and die for His creation (specifically us) - should never cease to amaze and astound us.
Sadly, too often it seems to fail to inspire us.
If I have been made aware of anything this year, it is how much that humility which the world needs to see, which the Church Universal should demonstrate, is missing. I cannot fix the Church directly; I can only fix myself.
Is there a "limit" to humility, a point at which one has become too humble? I guess in theory it is possible, although I cannot imagine what that limit would be; few there are that might be accused of being humble to the point of it being a detriment. And per Moses the Ethiopian above, humility may be the one thing we can outperform the Evil One in.
I close this year with the quote I read from C.S. Lewis so many years ago (and quoted at least once during this series) that sent me long ago down this path of consideration of humility:
"Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble person he will be what most people call 'humble' nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think of him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility; he will not be thinking about himself at all.
If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize one is proud. And a biggish step, too. At least, nothing whatever can be done before it. If you think you are not conceited, you are very conceited indeed."
That last sentence hits like a Three Stooges poke in the eyes TB. Seeing such ideals in black and white (even on an electronic screen)helps much.....to quote that short sensei from a galaxy faraway....Improve I must! There's a snowstorm rolling in as I type, my default mode seems to be humor... (sigh).......:)
ReplyDeleteNylon12 -Lewis has a way with words (I need to re-read him this year).
DeleteTo your point, reading it is one thing, doing is another. Like you, humour is my go-to response for almost everything in life - which is usually appropriate, but not always.
An enjoyable journey. I learned a few things I did not know. To commit a year in advance to something and then follow through certainly deserves praise for the effort. So, which virtue will you tackle for exposition next? Perhaps not for an entire year, but I would appreciate your thoughts on those that remain and are of importance in your life.
ReplyDeleteSamuel - Thank you for the kind words. I learned several things that I did not know as well about humility (a great deal of it was how far I need to go).
DeleteThat I made it a full year finds me the most shocked of all people - not from the depth of the subject, but rather from the fact that I stuck to it for the year.
In terms of another virtue (were I to choose), I feel pretty strongly about kindness. It was one of my mother's most characteristic traits and something that I feel that, given the state of the world and how people are interacting right now, is one we are in great need of.
The first step to humility is understanding and accepting reality as it is, and now how you'd like it to be: especially as reality is regarding oneself.
ReplyDeleteThat does not sound off from Lewis says John, if we start with ourselves as being proud. Which, left to ourselves, is the general reality.
DeleteLovely, TB, and I am grateful for your sharing what you have learned. Reading through the comments and your responses, I agree regarding kindness. Part of the fruit of the spirit, in my view it's a non-negotiable for Christ followers. I can endure many kinds of people, but when they are unkind, my patience is stretched. But wait, patience is part of that fruit as well. Long way to go for me. Thanks for a solid year of writing and sharing. All the best.
ReplyDeleteBob - First of all, thank you very much. I always appreciate your commentary and glad you found your way here. To your point, unkind people put me off too, even if their point is good.
DeleteSecond of all - How did I not know you had a blog? Now added, sir!