Humility

Editor's Note: This was printed in the St. Thomas Aquinas Parish Bulletin, Ames, IA -- Educational Column -- July 22, 2007

Nelson Mandela’s inaugural speech speaks powerfully of humility!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?”

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Think of the children in your life that constantly ask questions about the world because they are never satisfied with one answer! Nothing holds back their observing, questioning and giving of themselves. How have adults reduced the world to black, white and gray? As adults, are we eager to learn and challenge ourselves and others with the same openness, wonder, and awe as a child? Perhaps, we need to focus on genuineness versus superficiality. Catholic monk and philosopher, Thomas Merton, once said, “Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.”

Matthew 18: 1-4 coincides with Mandela’s thought as it challenges us to “become like little children,” by becoming vulnerable to receive wisdom and knowledge from Him. Likewise, it is important to remember that we are God’s children, created in His image and likeness.

Humility is a virtue that invites us to become more dependent on God’s will by becoming more interdependent on one another. We are invited to share our light, gifts, and talents with by empowering others to do the same. Thus, we paint the world in vibrant and life-giving colors!

Humility also eliminates pride and arrogance in our lives. These walls are replaced with bridges of acceptance, love, gentleness by being of selfless service to others. What characteristics of humility color your world?

In closing, St. Ignatius Loyola summarizes humility from a stewardship angle:

“Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding and my entire will – all that I have and call my own. You have given it all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace. That is enough for me.”