It is highly unlikely that my research will earn me global accolades or that my books will sell millions of copies, but I aspire to have a meaningful impact while committing to the humility and generosity that I received from some great role models.
I can't let today's column by David Brooks on "The Vigorous Virtues" of Margaret Thatcher pass without giving him what he deserves.
Humility is an act of strength, not a sign of weakness, because it reflects confidence in the future more than a fear enslaved by the past. Isn't that, after all, what America should be most about? And if humility was good enough for Jesus, as the Pope is helping us to remember, then shouldn't it also be good enough for us?
The decisions made during Francis' first Holy Thursday as pope will signal much about just what sort of father Francis will be: a loving one who values his daughters as much as his sons, who truly listens and is willing to admit his own mistakes, or a father who signals merely a shift in papal style but not in substance?
Though I'm not a Catholic, I'm always genuinely inspired by followers of Christ who try to live lives of true humility and true right-sizedness. I hope, for both the sake of his church and the church universal, that Pope Francis lives into the name he has chosen for himself.
When my 14-year-old, who is not Catholic, asked me whether I "liked the new guy," I told her I didn't l know yet, but that it was unlikely that any guy I liked would ever get that job.
St. Francis, like no one before or since, captured the essence of what it meant to follow the example of Jesus Christ. Jesus commanded and St. Francis, more than any other human being, attempted to fulfill his simple yet unachievable demand.
On the surface, the death of Rabbi Hartman and the resignation of Pope Benedict occurring at the same time was a mere coincidence, two separate news items in two separate parts of the world, affecting two different religious communities. But there are lessons to learn from both men.
I looked at her ballet slippers on a shelf -- the ones she wore when she was 3 of 4. When her biggest concerns were which book we'd read before bed. I felt old. Worthless. Uncertain. And pretty uncomfortable as I lay there in silence. Until she spoke three words.
If you're of a certain vintage, you might recall Art Linkletter's classic TV segment, Kids Say the Darndest Things, which aired from the 1950s through...
Far from being a vulnerable trait, if used wisely, a humble attitude clears the way for one to fully appreciate more of life.
Because we are still near the beginning of a new calendar year, it's not a bad thing to listen to Francis' wisdom and consider the ways in which we might better live out our Christian lives in a spirit of humility.
Muhammad and Washington were gentlemen of the highest degree. This is no more evident than in the connection between them in the Holy Quran and "Rules of Civility."
Although there exist several differences between the two traditions, if we hope to love our neighbors as ourselves, then collectively we need to make an attempt to cross these bridges instead of just standing on one side looking across.
Regardless of who you voted for, we can all agree that civility and respect have been diminishing -- and often absent -- in recent elections, political conversations, and public discourse.
No politician can heal our nation. It's going to require a much more tremendous transformation than that. If Christians become the people of humility and repentance that Jesus died to make us, then we will be able to contribute to the transformation that is necessary.
When I read Cardinal Dolan's budget deficit message, I wept for St. Francis. Cardinal Dolan has domesticated this great Saint, tamed this wild man, reduced him from a radical, destabilizing force of nature into the patron saint of household pets.
By the time we get to the Seventh Step in the Twelve Step recovery process, our denial has been ripped away and we've done some very deep soul-searching. We come to the Seventh Step in a vulnerable state.
Jesus offers us an excruciating and easily ignored example of this as told to the church in Philippi as they too struggled with humility in their community.
I think we could all learn something significant from dogs regarding the nature of not just giving, but receiving. There seems to sufficient conversation around the need to be a good giver, and appropriately so, but there is little talk about the other end of the stick.
In a world where humility is considered more a weakness than a virtue, she was self-effacing and dedicated to serving others. A lot of us are going to miss Deborah Bruce.
Amidst the many demands of adulthood, life can sometimes lose its lightness. Even in our positive efforts toward health and wellness, we can become overly serious in our pursuits.
We believe we are right and are, therefore, the wronged one. But are there benefits to being wrong? Can we turn such a situation around so that we can learn more about ourselves? Imagine how boring it would be if we were all always right!
The capacity for intellectual empathy is essential to those who wish to live generously and with integrity in a pluralistic society. It is even more essential today than in times past.
Just as a sponge can only take on water after being wrung out, so too must we be able -- regardless of our experience or education -- to continually renounce our own fullness, lest we become bloated and stale.
