*One more from Alwyn Lau (sorry for the delay) I’ll need to let the mediations catch up ~ Sivin*
Luke 18.9-14
Garfield has a cute way with words. I recall a cartoon in which our friendly fat cat says, “It’s so difficult to be humble – when you’re so great.” I like that.
Jokes aside, I believe it is pretty hard to…err…get humility. Especially in an age of shows like The Apprentice, Fear Factor, Survivor, World Sports, Hollywood celebrities and other I’m-Better-Than-You elements. Oh yah it’s difficult. But not impossible. We just gotta get our thinking right.
You don’t become humble by striving for it. Neither do you do so by meditating or reading or thinking about it. Even if you ask God for it, you can’t just sit around and wait for it to drop on you.
In fact, humility is a by-product of being a servant. Humility is what gradually but surely wraps itself around you the more you wrap yourself with a towel and go to work for those in need. Humility is like the dew in the flowers which ‘rubs off’ you whenever you spend time in the garden of God’s mission. Humility is like the earth which sticks to you each time you bring your head to the ground in confession, in repentance and in rededication.
“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
(Luke 18.14)
And of course, don’t forget. You are the last person to ‘check with’ regarding how humble you are. Let others speak for you. And speak well about others. Watch and learn from those who inspire servanthood and other-centeredness in your heart.
Action : Think of TWO people you consider very humble. Ask yourself how they became that way. What is their daily routine? How do they deal with issues in life? And so on. (I know various people who have renounced television in their homes. Believe it or not, there is NO media-dispensing square box in any of their rooms – gasp! This is undoubtedly a great way to sustain humility in the home).