Sunday, May 15, 2011

Oh MY God

I know its scary when I've been thinking, but imagine what it must be like actually being inside my head, eh?

I've been thinking a lot about humility and how it seems like humanity has a complete lack of it lately. I wondered if maybe my standards are just too high or perhaps I have fallen victim to the sort of prideful self righteousness that causes so many of us to feel superior to other people. Lots of things make me feel like puking when it comes to people - the ones who think they shouldn't have to contribute to society at all because they've achieved enough in their life to be comfortable and no one else deserves as much as them AND the ones who feel like they shouldn't have to do anything but take up space and oxygen while everyone else in the world works their asses off and each person gives them just a little to make up for their total lack. Notice the theme there? Neither of them wants to give anything to anyone. One has plenty to share and the other has nothing, but thinks everyone should share with them. I believe that both points of view are wrong, prideful and flatly irritating.

Recently I have noted several people in my life who subscribe to a particular sect of Christianity committing grievous acts of blasphemy. I mean, not blasphemy in the way that I just think its blasphemy so I'm going to call it that - but no. Real, biblical blasphemy. (Coming from someone whose blog is called Well, Goddamn I suppose you'd think I'm the pot calling the kettle black and you might just be right about that). This is what made me wonder where reminding someone that they are going against the beliefs they subscribe to ends and blatant holier than thou attitudes begin.

An old friend of mine once told me "Humility is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there" which, I'm fairly sure he attributed to Mother Teresa, but I have not been able to substantiate that. I DO know that she said Both humility and prayer grow from an ear, mind, and tongue that have lived in silence with God, for in the silence of the heart God speaks.

Mahatma Ghandi said the seven great sins are 1: Wealth without work 2: Pleasure without conscience 3: Knowledge without character 4: Commerce without morality 5: Science without humility 6: Worship without sacrifice and 7: Politics without principle

Charles Dickens famously said that 'Umble we are. 'Umble we have been. 'Umble we shall ever be.

Of course, in contrast, you could go with Ted Turner's estimation that If I only had a little humility, I would be perfect.

When all else fails, we can turn to the internet encyclopedia to define humility for us.

For me, I feel that humility is a constant struggle against my own human nature. I believe very much that Man, as a reasoning being, carries with Him some pride and a lot of arrogance. We have this sort of inborn passion for ourselves that - to the best of my knowledge - other beasts of the world simply do not possess. I want to move away from that passion for self and learn to keep my mouth shut about small and insignificant things, but then I have to decide what is insignificant enough that I should not at least try to change or influence change in the world. What is small and carries no bearing ont he world? For, truly, if the wings of a butterfly flapping here today can cause a hurricane on the other side of the world tomorrow - then is someone drinking the sacramental wine as a dinner garnish arbitrary? How do you know?

To affect change in the world toward what I personally think is the best path for humanity would make me truly prideful, I think. I have no right to believe what I do is in the name of my God if my God has not personally told me to do it. And He hasn't! At the same time, I think that letting the world destroy itsself without intervention is truly selfish. One cannot stand alone and believe their actions have no consequences on those around them.

I have been accused of being a democrat, a liberal, too conservative, too religious, a nutjob, a socialist (that one was my favorite - oh no! I think all men are equal and should be treated that way!), and a republican. All because people who have no opinions of their own need to label those around them in order to be comfortable. In my life, I have learned that there is no comfort in humility. At all. Humility is a constant exercise in self control and a struggle to let go of the pride and ego which only stop me from seeing someone else's point of view and finding a diplomatic resolution. With all of these things in mind, I decided to invite some friends of mine to come here and guest author their own thoughts on humility. I don't know if they will all come forward, but I am hopeful.

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