By Winnie Bolton
Humility is not just a definition in the dictionary; it is a virtue that is practiced in the heart. But understanding its true meaning has always been a puzzle to me as is its opposite, pride.
“Humility does not consist in ignorance of truth. If a man is above the average height of men, he cannot help knowing it,” said Cardinal Manning.
Nelson Mandela’s 1994 inaugural speech, which I recently came across, shed much light on this conundrum of mine. He said, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate but that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, talented, heroic? 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 manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s just not in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
The more we look at ourselves and life in this manner, humbleness enters and no definition is necessary.
No little word we say or small act we do that can benefit another human being is insignificant. Our inner attitudes affect everyone with whom we come in contact. Laughing at ourselves helps to release the ego and can open the door to humility.
In other words, we are not a bunch of people populating the world but precious humans made in God’s image becoming all that we can. So my 2009 resolution is to practice humbleness.
Afterall, believing that it is God working through us and in us then when we receive compliments they are really meant for Him in the first place and similarly addresses the false ego in us which is called pride.
