Humility

From my quiet time this morning---I thought this passage on humility by John Ruskin lovely and worth contemplating:

"I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I do not mean by humility doubt of his own power, or hesitation of speaking his opinions; but a right understanding of the relation between what he can do and say, and the rest of the world’s sayings and doings. All great men act only know their business, but usually know that they know it; and are not only right in their main opinions, but they usually know that they are right in them, only they do not think much of themselves on that account. Arnolfo knows he can build a good dome at Florence; Albert Durer writes calmly to one who has found fault with his work, “It cannot be better done”; Sir Isaac Newton knows that he has worked out a problem or two that would have puzzled anybody else; only they do not expect their fellow-men, therefore, to fall down and worship them. They have a curious under-sense of powerlessness, feeling that the greatness is not in them, but through them; that they could not do or be anything else than God made them—and they see something Divine and God-made in every other man they meet, and are endlessly, foolishly, incredibly merciful."

Regarding Ruskin's quote above, I wish I was "endlessly, foolishly, incredibly merciful." Humility is inherently winsome and easily spotted among false affectations.  One hallmark is that there is no self-gain and the focus in on another's best interests without thought of how it may impact oneself.  

John the Baptist was humble---a mere platform for Christ, a preparing, the "opening show." For a long awaited son and precursor to a Savior, from a humanistic perspective, the manner and cause of his death is capricious and ignoble.  He died too soon, he died as the result of his candor and humility.

Humility is not a popular sentiment in our self-reliant and self-promoting culture. It's difficult to catch of glimpse of one's soul in this regard---like looking in the mirror and trying to see you how others see  you.  I find it painful to think about personally--it's easy to spot pride in others, difficult to spot it in oneself and elusive to weed out.. Just when you feel you've managed to rip out a few deep-seated roots in one's heart,  ten more have bloomed anew.

It also reminded me of an excellent short meditation on humility I read this summer by Andrew Murray (1828-1917).

Andrew Murray's work is available free online here.