Author's blog

CHOOSING  HUMILITY

I realize that many people struggle with the whole idea of humility. Some people suggest that it is wrong to think of ourselves as imperfect, sinful or otherwise weak creatures who must live in a state of humbleness before God. This kind of thinking is believed by some to produce feelings of guilt or a never-ending cycle of needing and/or asking for forgiveness.  It is also believed that living with an ever-present sense of sinfullness, imperfection or weakness is emotionally, psychologically and spiritually unhealthy. It is further believed by some to be a false teaching of the Church…rooted in erroneous theological perspectives and inaccurate interpretations of Scripture.

As the author of the poem, When I say, “I am a Christian” I’d like to say that my own self-perception of weakness, imperfection and sinfullness – as outlined in this poem - is a state of mind that I enter into willfully. It is a concious choice. I don’t think of myself as imperfect, sinful, or weak because the Church has drilled this teaching into me. I have not arrived at this perception because of the way I interpret Scripture. I don’t adhere to the perception because of any doctrine, statements of faith, or creeds passed down through the generations by the great theologians of the world.

In contrast to the above I have adopted this perception of myself because I experience my imperfections first hand. I experience my sinful nature on a daily basis. I experience my weaknesses quite often. In other words…I am in tune with myself and don’t always like what I see, hear, and do. In spite of this negative self-perception of imperfection, sinfullness or weakness…I enjoy high self esteem! I don’t hang my head in private or in public. I don’t feel a sense of guilt and I don’t enter into a never-ending cycle of seeking forgiveness!  Why? Because there is a positive side to my self-portrait!

I know myself to be a loving person and worthy of being loved in return! I also know that I am covered by an eternal blanket of forgiveness. I never sense that my Creator is attempting to poke holes in my blanket. It’s there to stay. So my choice to live in a spirit of humility is a concious choice based on insight into my own self. It is this type of personal insight that keeps arrogance and self-righteousness in check. I happen to think that personal insight into one’s own shortcomings is quite healthy for one’s heart, mind and spirit. It’s all a matter of balancing the negative with the positive.