Spiritual Tools - Principle: Humility

An accurate assessment of my capabiliies

Humility has a negative connotation to some; is seen as unattainable by others. It is different from humiliation. Humility may be attained through humiliation but I am not sure it is a required step in the process. I really like the quote from Dr. Bob Smith of Akron Ohio:

Another thing with which most of us are not too blessed is the feeling of humility. I don't mean the fake humility of Dickens' Uriah Heep. I don't mean the doormat variety; we are not called upon to be shoved around and stepped on by anyone; we have a right to stand up for our rights. I'm talking about the attitude of each and every one of us toward our Heavenly Father. Christ said, "Of Myself, I am nothing - My strength cometh from My Father in heaven." If He had to say that, how about you and me? Did you say it? Did I say it? No. That's exactly what we didn't say. We were inclined to say instead, "Look me over, boys. Pretty good, huh?" We had no humility, no sense of having received anything through the grace of our Heavenly Father.

I did not choose my parents or the natural talents, if any, I possess. My life is like crossing a foggy river from stone to stone. I choose which next stone to attempt but I did not place the stones. All I can do is fit myself to be of maximum service to God and the others I encounter. I realize today, that How I am to be used is less of my own choosing than I once supposed. But how Fit I am is a function of How I develop and use God's gifts.

Comment

DEFINITIONS

  1. Humility: n. The quality or condition of being humble; lack of pride (American Heritage Dictionary)
  2. Humble: adj. 1) Marked by meekness or modesty in behavior, attitude or spirit. 2) Showing deferential or submissive respect 3) Of low rank or station; unpretentious. (American Heritage Dictionary)
  3. Humble: adj. 1) Having or showing a low estimate of one's own importance 2) Of low social or political rank 3) Of modest pretensions, dimensions, etc.(Oxford Pocket American Dictionary)
  4. Humility, or being humble, is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modest person, someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others. The opposite of humility is pride.

    The term "humility" is derived from the Latin word "humilis", which is translated not only as humble but also alternatively as "low", or "from the earth", and "humus", humid, which in the past it was believed that emotions, diseases, and depressions were caused by imbalances of body waters.[1] Because the concept of humility addresses intrinsic self-worth, it is emphasized in the realm of religious practice and ethics where the notion is often made more precise and extensive. Humility as a religious or spiritual virtue is different from the act of humiliation or shaming though the former may follow as a consequence of the latter. (Wikipedia)

SIGNIFICANCE

  1. Humility is a byproduct of a life of service. I have found it unattainable as a goal in itself. I have found myself in that state on rare occasions as a result of "getting out of the results business". I aim to live a life based on principles for the sake of improving the quality of my Now. The state of humility disappears the moment I realize I am in that state. Its a spiritual joke. Its like peripheral vision. The minute you focus on it, its gone.
  2. I get more done. Humility is closely allied with gratitude as it is the opposite of pride. Pride can block me from the real power enabling me to accomplish the little I have done to this point. Pride hinders fitting myself to be of maximum service. It is ironic that, with humility and the leveling of my pride, I accomplish more. I am led to make better choices. I am shown the right things to do and do them reasonably well, as opposed to insisting on doing the wrong things with obsessive perfectionism.
  3. Humility and Self-esteem are not incompatible. I get self-esteem as a byproduct of doing "esteem-able acts". Esteem-able acts are when I employ God given talents and abilities to increase the quality of life in others. The quality of that self-esteem is greater than any received as a result of climbing the corporate ladder or trying to impress others with how much I know. I hope I am not trying to impress anyone with this website - though a part of me says "Of course you are and what a good job your doing!". By showing my current concepts of these tools in this format, maybe I will be corrected where needed and by these corrections others may be helped.

EXAMPLE

I went for my first overnight backpacking trip in the spring of 2006 in the Cohutta Wilderness in north Georgia with my 22 year old son, my best friend and his 18 year old Eagle Scout son. We came to the first of 41 river crossings. The Scout leaped from rock to rock across the 30' wide river with a 50 lb backpack. I remembered hiking the Colorado Rockies at 22 and, at 51 years old, thought as though nothing had changed. First leap went well. Second leap, my foot slipped on a dome shaped boulder. I went parallel to the ground in mid-air and came down on the dome on what I do have now that I did not have then – a soft belly. The ego was bruised but little else. I then followed the dictates of the riddle of the Sphinx: “What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?” The answer is Man. I got a walking stick and sought the softer sandy bottom. Me and my third leg made it the whole trip without another fall.

Humility is an accurate assessment of my capabilities.

Father Joseph Martin said, “The best advice I can give is 'Don't give any advice'.” When someone asks me for advise, I should pause to realize: I really do not know all the millions of variables going on in someone's life. By necessity they are telling me only what they see as important. Even with those closest to me, I know only a little of what they experience and none of what they actually think – just what they say about what they think. What I think they are thinking or feeling is not reality for them. On the other hand, I am the world's expert on one thing – Me. When I relate my experience in similar situations, I am speaking as an expert. Advise for others is only speculation; speculation where I frequently have nothing to lose if they make the wrong choices. Better to share my experience, strength and hope and let them take what is relevant and leave the rest.

So, what you read here is from my experience. I really do not know if it will be as effective for you as it is for me. The process of organizing my random experiences has one great result. It is helping me to fit myself to be a better servant.

SEE ALSO

Gratitude
Kindness