Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Pondering upon Humility


Let's just put it out on the table in clear sight so even the bats can see it: I'm confused.

Pride is often frowned upon. Humility is the opposite of pride, yet it's considered weak and succumbing (according to the dictionary). Humility is considered a virtue, but not appearing weak...

No wonder why so many people in so many histories have had trouble with pride! There apparently are healthy forms of pride, then there's false pride. The lines are blurred: where is pride too much, where is it okay? And speaking of humility, no one wants to appear weak.

Something is missing here.

I think the definition of humility over time has been warped and twisted. Like the word hope. Hope nowadays is an uncertain term, like we hope for some cooler weather (at least I do). At one time, it was actually a certainty, like we hope for better days: we know that they will come, we look forward to better days.

So, that leaves the question: what is the true definition of humility? I believe that it is not quite what we all automatically think of. Humilty is where you recognize you possess talents and gifts, but they aren't all your doing. You were blessed with those abilities. To be humble is to be strong. When you recognize that you are blessed, you recognize where your true strength lies.

Humility also allows us to see truth. If one is very proud in their possessions and their looks, etc., it is much harder for them to see that perhaps they aren't all they thought they were. When one is humble, we are able to see our shortcomings, where we can be better. And because we recognize our weaknesses, we are able to work on them and become even stronger as a person.

To be humble is to be strong.
To be humble is to be able to become even better.
To be humble is to get closer to perfection.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

All I can say is nothing because your blog is not interesting to read.

Rick Edge said...

Now there's a post you can be proud of!

Moonlight writer said...

Hey, Game Gambling dude, or dudette, that is ONLY YOUR opinion. I find a lot of what people have to say interesting, and relevant. They write based on experience and learning by that experience. It projects what people living on this sometimes insane world are like. Thankfully, not everyone is crazy.

Now, about your blog.
Humility, truth, hope, trust, integrity. A lot of qualities and characteristics have become distorted, or is it people's perceptions are now expressed, instead of hidden? Broader communication unveils more of the world, and how everyone thinks and perceives.

Old Warrior said...

Nat-one of your strongest traits is your humility.

ggol-why are you even looking at anything other than your own meaningless site of lottery nonsense? talk about your meaningful existance....

Letty said...

I love your ideas nat! I really think you are such a humble sweet girl!
Thanks for always being the smart one! I'll keep looking up to you!

Anonymous said...

There is a section in The Screwtape Letters that talks about pride. I'll look up for you next time you ask to see it, but it clarified pride quite a bit for me. Thanks for the blog!

Anonymous said...

Yes! I know a great book that talks about just this. It gave me a very different perspective on things. It's written by an LDS author, Dean Hughes. I just interviewed him for the newspaper in fact! He is a very sweet old man! The book is called "The Cost of Winning: Coming in First Across the Wrong Finish Line." I have it if you want to borrow it!

Maddie