Humility

When I was growing up, I was involved in about every sport. One of my favorite sports was soccer. I loved soccer for the camaraderie, the fun, and maybe most of all for the competition. One season, when I was about ten, my cousin and I were on opposing teams, both headed for the league championship. I can still remember telling everyone in the family how much better our team was than theirs and how much better of a player I was than my cousin. The day of the deciding game finally came, it was my team vs. his team. I was goal keeper for our team and he was a forward. I will never forget when my cousin broke away from the pack and was running toward the goal with the ball. It was just me and him. I was telling myself that now was the time to prove that I was indeed the better soccer player. He got closer, took his shot, and the ball whizzed past me safely into the net. Ugh! He had beaten me! Not only did he beat me in a one on one matchup, his team beat my team that day. Everything that I had said about how much better I was than him suddenly came crashing in. I learned a valuable lesson in humility that day.

The idea of being meek, or humble, is contrary to what we think about or learn in our everyday lives. We learn from society that we have to get on top and stay there, that nobody should be more important than we are. We have also learned that being meek or humble might be a sign of weakness. This idea couldn't be further from the truth. I was doing some study about humility and found that the Greek word for meek is praus. I believe this word hits the nail on the head for being humble or meek. Praus means so much more than simply being "meek." If you dig a little, you see that meekness finds its meaning not in weakness, but in exercising strength under control...demonstrating power without harshness.

So how does this apply to us, you might be asking. The idea that we must get ahead no matter what and step on whoever gets in our way isn't really the best way. If we are a servant and a leader, how much more will those we have charge over want to follow us? Being humble or meek is not weakness, it is strength. This month try a little humility, maybe be a servant leader, and see the difference it will make in those around you!

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