Humility
For about 20 years, whenever I read something that catches my attention, I write it down in a journal. The journals I’ve filled through the years aren’t catalogued or indexed. There is no order to them other than the chronology of my reading. The random nature of the journals makes finding a specific quote on a particular theme virtually impossible.
For this reason, I go to the journals less to find specific quotes than to find a treasure that sparks my imagination. Often, though certainly not always, I will discover a quote that seems just right for the moment. I don’t know if this is the work of the Holy Spirit or just dumb luck. Whichever it is, I’ll take it.
Flipping through one of the journals today as I sought inspiration, I found a page with two quotes on humility that seemed particularly pertinent during this week of the midterm elections.
From the 19th century British preacher Charles Spurgeon: “Humility is to make a right estimate of oneself.”
From the mid-20th century Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple: “Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all.”
How do these definitions stand up in 21st century America? They seem only to point out the lack of humility in society. Politically, we live in a never-ending election cycle in which many politicians do nothing but think about and promote themselves. Religiously, too many self-proclaimed people of faith make sure the rest of us see just how righteous they are. Social media and smartphones, so dominant in our lives, invite us not only to think about ourselves but also to tell everyone else what we think about ourselves.
If I go any further on this theme, I’ll dive into a pit of cynicism and grumpiness. Which, as I think about it, is often just another way of thinking about myself instead of others.
What gives me hope? The many people of genuine humility I meet day in and day out, those who remind me that generalizations about society often don’t fit the particular people who walk through this life with me. Perhaps it’s one of the best arguments for the importance of participating in an authentically accepting and loving church community. A diverse faith community that cares for and about the world, encourages me to focus not solely on my life but on the lives of others. Paradoxically, when I discover the freedom of not thinking about myself at all, I experience the fullness of life God intends for all of us.