Humbling

It’s easy to see how I thought that way.

When I was born my parents clothed and fed me. They went out of their way to ensure that I got the essentials in life. That gave me the clear impression that I should be in receipt of whatever I felt I needed. I was entitled to it.

That was ably assisted by a culture that promoted being in it for yourself. Look after number one because you’re worth it. ‘Self love’ was crucial because if you don’t love yourself, how can anyone else? Then when it emerged that I was talented in certain areas that drew the attention of others it further fed into the thinking that perhaps I really was the centre of the universe. Maybe everything really did revolve around me.

When I didn’t get the attention or it looked like someone else was getting the focus this rubbed me up the wrong way. What was that all about? Why wasn’t anyone thinking about me? Lots of the times of feeling low was basically about being self-absorbed and not having my ego sufficiently stroked.

Clearly what needed to happen was a spot of being humbled.

Being humbled put things in a perspective I had not appreciated previously. Being humbled got me to finally acknowledge that there were factors and issues far greater than me. Being humbled got me to see that I was not the centre of anything, but there was someone far greater who was. Being humbled shone a fierce light into the selfishness and expose it for the corrupting cancerous virus it was.

Being humbled brought about true sorrow, but not in the sense of being sad that I was caught, or sad that I’d be in trouble. This sadness was one that led to looking to the right thing and no longer be as self-obsessed. This sadness was about the lives of others that was missing out on what I had to share because of that pursuit for the glorification of me. Being humbled helped me to recognise just how dependent I was on others, It helped me appreciate that I am not the one worthy of acclaim and honour. The one who created me, the one who sustained me, the one who will judge me – that was the one who was worthy of the glory and praise. Discovering more about this one humbled me even more.

Being humbled was not about being demeaned or rendered of little value. It wasn’t an excuse for further gloom and self-pity. In a lot of ways being humbled relieved me of unnecessary pressure. Being humbled released me to enjoy life in the light of the One whose love extended to me whether I was looking to Him or not.

Life would periodically remind me that it was far better for me to be humbled than to allow things to reach the stage where I would have to be humiliated. Helpful reminders that I could get too big for my boots from time to time and I just needed to get back to the humble perspective and operate from there. That wasn’t about always being quiet or a pushover. It was just to remember that any appeal I was to make to anyone came from a desire for what was right, what was true what would result in peace and what would be constructive.

That came about because of the example of the humble one who constantly looked to bring His Father glory by completing His mission even to the point of death on the cross.

Remember that is …

Humbling.

(Photo by prottoy hassan on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden