Jesus' teachings tell
us that he/she who is the greatest among us shall be our servant. Truly,
the greatest people are those who serve with joy and humility; those who use
their gifts for the
common good not for their own benefit. Here are some thoughts about humility
inspired by the writings of an unknown author.
Let us not confuse
notoriety and fame with greatness. Many of the famous people in today's world
obtained their fame and fortune outside their own merit. On the other hand,
there are many people who although lowly, whom others may consider insignificant and
in the most obscure roles, could deserve more. Charles Dickens once said that no one is useless in this world who lightens the
burden of anyone else.
Greatness is a measure of one's spirit, not a
result
of one's rank in human affairs. Nobody,
least of all mere human beings, confers greatness upon another, for it is not a
prize but an achievement. Greatness can crown the head of a janitor just as
readily as it can come to someone of high rank, according to Sherman G.
Finesilver.
Even the great Helen
Keller said that she longs to accomplish great and noble tasks, but it is
her chief duty to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble.
The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also
by the aggregate of the tiny pushes of each honest worker, according to her.
True greatness and true
leadership are achieved not by reducing men to one’s service, but by giving
oneself in selfless service to them. The world measures greatness by money,
eloquence, intellectual skill, or even by prowess on the field of battle. But
the Lord’s standard is: "Whosoever shall humble himself as this
little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:4
The beginning of
greatness is to be little; to increase greatness is to be less, and the
perfection of greatness is to be nothing. Greatness after all, in spite of its
name, appears to be not so much a certain size as a certain quality in human
lives. It may be present in lives whose range is very small.
The world’s idea of
greatness is to rule, but Christian greatness consists in serving. The less there is of you,
the more the light shines through. “He who stays not in his littleness, loses
his greatness,” St. Francis de Sales.
Have
you observed a rice field and noticed which heads are bent and
which ones stand up straight? Well, the empty heads are standing
tall and high. The heads that are filled with grains are bending
low. Indeed, the true great and strong people are humble and
gentle. True giants don't mind bowing low. |
Tim
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