Humility has taken a bad rap in recent years. That's a tragedy when you consider how this misunderstood virtue could bring peace to our souls and change to our world.
For many people, the word humility has come to signify humiliation or self-derogation. Even the dictionary enshrines such definitions. As an adjective, humble can mean "insignificant, unpretentious." As a verb, it can signify "to destroy the power, independence, or prestige of." This brand of humility is hardly useful in a society where the spoils go to the arrogant and powerful.
There is, however, a better way to think about humility, and it can release all kinds of potential within us. In this definition, humility is complete clarity about our individual selves and our place in the universe. As my monastery's Rule for Associates puts it, "Humility is not self-denigration; it is honest appraisal. We have gifts and deficiencies, as does everyone else."
When I think about humility in this context, I reduce it to two basic claims:
The first claim confronts us with some stark realities. There are roughly 7 billion people on the planet. That makes me one-seven-billionth of the human race -- pretty tiny on almost any scale. As if that weren't enough, I live in the face of social megatrends and powerful interests far beyond my control. All by myself, for instance, I cannot make the U.S. government do what I want, any more than I can make it rain.
Ironically, this bleak view may make for a healthier self-image in two ways. First, it is hard to maintain any sense of arrogance -- overestimating your value or capabilities beyond all reality -- when you cast a cold eye on your place in the universe. Second, "I'm only one person" liberates the over-responsible from taking on too much.
It's not hard, of course, to take "I'm only one person" too far, and that leads us straight into despair. If I'm only one person, why try to change anything? Why put out any effort?
That's the point of the other humility claim: "I am one person." Its bold affirmation thwarts the despair and gives us the power to do what we can. By embracing "I am one person," I realize that I have exactly one person's gifts, talents and limitations. I can make exactly one person's contribution to the world. Once I put my gifts to use, I discover they can make a difference, not just in the world but in my soul as well. Few things are more validating than the affirmation of some person or charity that needs precisely what you have to offer.
Moreover, by clarifying our value and our limitations, "I am one person" opens our eyes to the importance of we. Once we start pitching in and making a difference, we come up against the limits of our individual abilities. In the process, we grasp that we can accomplish even more by wedding our talents to those of others. The tasks too intimidating for "only one person" suddenly look doable. We begin to band together and do them: creating institutional change, making an impact on legislators, joining our groups with other groups to wield even more clout.
That is where it gets interesting.
Imagine that I want to change my state's law on cell phone use while driving. As "only one person," I look at the power of the legislature, the staggering challenge of swaying public opinion, and then I look at little old me -- and despair. But in "I am one person" mode, I look at my gifts and realize I can write. So I write op-ed pieces and letters to legislators.
At the same time, I also know that I cannot spend countless hours lobbying those in power. I know next to nothing about recruiting volunteers. In other words, I can't do this by myself. So I try to find groups who are concerned about the law as well. Perhaps in their midst is a community organizer who knows how to rally the troops, and a former congressional aide who knows how to get through to elected officials. All of a sudden, with each of us doing what he or she does best, we have impact.
There is also a personal benefit to this kind of humility. Once we learn what we can and cannot do -- where to wield our strengths (and our schedule) to greatest effect -- we can say no to everything that doesn't fit. Our lives gain more balance and our efforts more chance of success. Our souls come to peace and contentment.
Arrogance and the raw exercise of power haven't gotten us very far, either personally or collectively. Humility might do better. Perhaps we should give it a try.
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Paul Brandeis Raushenbush: Religious Identity and the Public Square
Humility - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Humility | Define Humility at Dictionary.com
I used to work with a Concordance while reading the Bible. I thought it was useful because sometimes the same words are used over & over, & sometimes, meaning really can be lost in translation.
Fr'instance here in, "The meek shall eventually inherit the earth."
One thing I found interesting was in the choice of the word 'meek.' In translating from the original Aramaic, (& then so on through the various languages to the more modern day English) they could have just as easily used another word (& had done so in other places). That other word most closely resembles the modern day English word of 'teachable.'
I think being teachable means something like, 'when the student is ready, the teacher arrives.' I also think it denotes a meditative readiness or even, at times, a position of detachment - that is, sometimes one is in the position to give & sometimes one is in a position to receive. Not being attached to either but flowing freely from one to the other.
All the sacred writings of all the religions say the same things, all they are saying is give peace love understanding respect compassion humility ... a chance. Humanity can do better.
Priest: "No, not if you did not know."
Eskimo: "Then why did you tell me?"
- Annie Dillard
Lauri Lumby
Authentic Freedom Ministries
http://yourspiritualtruth.com
Humility means accepting differences, and it is a prerequisite for experiencing the strength and richness of diversity. I am not Muslim, but I can appreciate the devotion and piety of a woman who CHOOSES to wear hijab. I am not Buddhist, but I can appreciate the integrity of a person who is vegetarian because of such beliefs. Because I can do this, I can, and do, have many friends of different traditions. I am definitely better for it.
Now I need to keep from being proud of myself for that--humility can be a real challenge!
It will not, however, until enough human beings on this planet understand how, and why.
Please join The Coalition of Jews, Christians and Muslims for Peace, Freedom and Justice, at http://cjcmp.org