humility

How arrogant to assume
that I'm free to be me,
that I am master of my fate,
scribe of my destiny.

My pride entices me to think
of my autonomy
as my divine prerogative
instead of enemy.

I did not make myself, have no
responsibility
for my own creation, still
presume that I am free;

but only in submission can
unbound I truly be,
to live the gift of love that You
have proferred unto me. 

I am Your partner struggling with
fluctuant humility.
O, tame me, tender Lord, as I
submit my soul to Thee.

Liz McFadzean

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”  C.S. Lewis 

As I began to search for a good symbol of humility, I thought of this local landmark.  “Touchdown Jesus” is a nickname given to the statue that ascends to 85 feet in front of the local Lutheran Church of the Foothills.  Its real name is the Tower of Redemption.  Covered with symbols of the atoning work of Jesus, it represents a human figure in a Hebrew posture of prayer.  

Kneeling has often been considered the “posture of humility”.  But humility is not just a subservient, low self-image.  It is a position of understanding that we cannot rely on our own intellect or insight alone to guide us.  Proverbs says, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”  It doesn’t say that SOMETIMES pride MIGHT lead to destruction.  It is describing a parade:  first comes pride, so be on the lookout for destruction…it’s coming for sure.

It is our pride that breaks us, as surely as Adam and Eve’s desire to be God-like cursed them and the whole human race in the garden.  They couldn’t find contentment in what God provided or His instruction.  They had to grasp to be like God by reaching for the one fruit he forbade them…independent, God-like knowledge. 

So, if it is our self-sufficiency that alienates us from God and others and from the joy we seek, then once we turn from our own brokenness to Christ, he lifts us out of the brokenness and we can experience joy.  He is our bridge to the selfless otherness of God. 

Therefore, the true posture of humility is looking up, reaching up to God for His support, guidance, wisdom, embracing his redemptive act on the cross.  David Brooks in his book “The Second Mountain”, describes people who experience this joy of humility or brokenness in this way:  “The world tells them to want independence, but they want interdependence…[they] are brave enough to let parts of their old self die.  Down in the valley, their motivations changed.  They’ve gone from self-centered to other-centered.” 

Down in the valley they look up.  That is the true posture of humility.

Then what is the remedy for arrogant pride?

Here’s one:  “Deliberately submit yourself systematically to correction from others.  The only path…is the formative discipline of submitting one’s ego to another self…This can happen in the church, in a marriage…when we give Christian friends the right to speak to us regularly about our flaws…it can happen, but only if you choose for correction to be part of your life.”  Tim Keller and Raymond Van Leeuwen