Tuesdays at Ten: Humility

I am dreaming of humility… and in my dream I am searching. Searching everywhere. Looking high and low. I look into the movies of today. I see self-gratification and violence. I look in the television and contemporary music. More of the same. I look into the windows of our homes. I watch the families that live there. I see abuse, anger, selfishness and people living out their lives for their own personal satisfaction. I can’t seem to find it anywhere. Where can I find humility in today’s world? I should be able to find it in the church, but is it really there? I need to wake up! We all need to wake up!

While this scenario was only a dream, it gives us pause to ponder and think. Where can we find humility? Is it gone? Is humility an “outdated” philosophy in America today?

Humility is the exact opposite of selfishness and they are waging a constant battle in our day-to-day life. Good against evil. Life vs death. And we are on the front lines.

Selfishness tells us that we don’t have to worry about other people. Their problems are their problems and as long as it doesn’t encroach on our personal life bubble, it doesn’t matter. Life goes on.

Humility starts in our heart and opens us up to others first. It allows us to see people as God sees them and love them despite the circumstance.

Selfishness is a dark consuming blanket that shuts us out from truly sharing our life with others. Living a life of selfishness is so sad, because in the end, if we have lived a life centered around ourselves…all we have is ourselves.

Humility is a “light on a hill.” Welcoming. Sharing. Guiding. It is shining bright so that others can find their way and join you. It says “I see you. And maybe we don’t always agree or live the same style of life…I still love you. Come. Let’s celebrate life together.”

Humility is the “beatitudes” lived out. Poor in spirit, mourning, meek, righteous seeking, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted for their faith…these attributes lead to living out the Kingdom of God right here – right now. What humility is NOT, is being a door mat for people to stomp on and walk over. Being humble is actually being strong. A solid base for a life built on loving. Being humble is not for the faint of heart. It can sometimes be a marathon of giving to others. Being humble takes effort. It takes time. It takes love. And when you feel like you can’t give, or love, or share anymore…go back to the Author of Love. Get recharged, refueled and restored…then get back out there. There is a battle to be won.

Humility is not totally lost in today’s world, but it must be taught and lived out for the next generation. It is only taught by example. It is taught by “heart living.” Humility is my grandma who walked to church every week no matter what the weather and who always shared of her bounty even when she had nothing. Humility is Ed and Rose, who even in their elder years quietly went to the church every week to make sure it was clean and ready for Sunday service. Humility was my late friend Tom, who would rather miss an important meeting than miss out on God’s prompting for him to drop what he is doing and visit someone in need. Humility is a young single mom, with nothing to spare who shares with a friend in need. Humility is my late friend Scott, who would ride his bike to the museum to trim the roses even in his final months and weeks of his life as it was being consumed by cancer. Humility takes a day off of work to drive several hours and sit with a friend preparing to go into surgery. Humility is a bag of groceries left on the doorstep of a struggling family. Humility is seeing the tears on the face of a friend and saying, “what can I do to help?” Humility is holding tight to the hand of a friend as they struggle to make sense of the injustice of cancer.

Humility says, let me share myself with you, so that in your deepest darkest time… when you are struggling to even take a breath… you have enough to keep going.
Humility is a verb! A life living out actions that reflects what is in our heart. A heart filled with love for others.

Look for humility in your life. Find it. Practice it. It is not just a dream.