The Gift of Humility

Having more than our share of winter weather, we can’t escape the hazards it poses.  A few days ago, I slipped on the ice and came down hard on my shoulder.  After recovering from the pain or shock of a fall, what do most of us do?  We look around to see if anyone saw us slip.  For those who fall publicly, like a seasoned skater in front of billions of viewers at the Olympics, it’s an even bigger challenge.  Many who work in public, such as the clergy, missteps or misspeaking are a lesson in humility.  God has a way of getting our attention, reminding us of our human tendency to make mistakes.  It’s hard when our human weakness becomes plain to one or millions.  How we choose to respond makes all the difference.  It can be a gift of humility.  We embrace this gift by knowing that we can learn from any mistakes, taking away any pride we may not have even been aware of.  This Lent, anytime you may find yourself humbled, thank God for the ability to learn and grow.  Humility as a gift allows us to move past the illusion of self-sufficiency and return our attention to the fact that God may be reaching out to us in a special way.