Last week I quoted a verse from Philipians 2 that we used to sing during Lent: “Christ hath humbled himself.” That word “humbled” struck something in me. I realized I use it quite a bit–around 15 times this year alone.  Maybe that’s because it’s something I find lacking in much of modern life. I was talking with a group of high school freshman and discovered not one of them knew what humility is. I suppose with all the emphasis on self esteem, humility is a bad word. I know some adults have told me that humility is not something that people should be taught. They saw it as merely a way for the powerful to keep the underlings in place.

Recently I read the following by Sister Joan Chittister: “Humility does not degrade you. Humility does not make you small. It means that you can rejoice in everyone else’s gifts and dreams. . . . Humility means as well that you can rejoice in your own abilities and joys but cling to none of them. Nothing binds you to your work or your status or appearance.”*

I like the idea that humility helps us appreciate other people. I have to watch myself all the time that when someone else talks about their achievements, I don’t pipe up to tell them I’ve done something even better. I also like the notion that humility frees us from attachments to work or status or appearance. Those things don’t define who I am as a humble child of God.

What do you think. Yea or nay to humility?

Read Ephesians 4:2 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

*The Monastic Heart, p. 205.