Humility

These are days when arrogance, self-expression, even narcissism, are somewhat stylish. Narcissus pined away to death for the love of himself, a love stimulated by the reflection of his face mirrored back at him from the water. During the last quarter of the twentieth century, numerous books were written about the popular turn toward individual self-esteem. They reviewed its value and damage. A new word has been coined for popular self-interest: selfie, and when applied to a group, selfies. A national news report noted the selfie word addition to the dictionary. It began with the new technology that easily permits a person to photograph rather easily one’s own image. A group may no longer be a social unit, but a collection of selfies. It is too soon in analysis to become definite about the benefits and losses for the selfie context.

Some critics believe that the self-oriented attitude has developed into massive proportion threatening in some way. Common illustrations of public strutting appear from many sports and entertainment celebrities. But the issue is broader than mimicry of celebrity foolishness. Even professionals in education, medicine and business are engaged in the wave of excesses in inflating their personal worth, and demanding that others honor them in the light of that inflation. This turn, which is not new but periodically renewed, toward egocentricity has contributed to a sometimes ugly competitive spirit between men and women, between young and old, between parents and children, between laborers and managers and nearly every social group inter-relationship we can cite. The spirit has taken some joy out of public life, has created a poor-me complex that implies that virtually everyone is somehow victimized, perhaps not receiving his or her recognition. As the view goes – I deserve more than I am getting, and someone has, with ill-will, diminished my entitlements. I deserve my rights. The tendency is even contributing to family breakdown. (None of this review is to diminish the benefits of innocent uses of what is available to document our life play related to self and friends in common relationships and activities.)

There is no doubt about unfairness in human conduct and we properly do what we can to improve in love, peace, patience, influence to even out life’s play context for every person. But to say as much, even to work toward that objective, is not the same as saying that equity will be present, or possible, in one’s lifetime. What is a practical response between ideals and actual situations? How may we gain wisdom? Scripture addresses the matter suggesting that we should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. Basic to understanding that concept is humility about self and mankind in society. Humility ought to grace individuals who when they have worked, not so much for their own rights as for the rights of others, discover that they have become co-laborers with Christ whose humility graces the whole of the Gospels. The disciples found the matter difficult to manage until Jesus’ ascension. They would prefer to know who might sit on the right hand or left of the Savior in the kingdom. Jesus both taught and acted humbly, pointing out how, in his father’s kingdom, the first would be last and the last first. In studying the life of Christ, and the Apostles after him, I believe humility is a major factor in gospel persuasion. Some of the blockage in gaining spiritual truth in society is in human arrogance. It serves mostly as distraction.

Appropriate pride in self, family, profession, community, and nation must be balanced with appropriate humility. Much world tension, even to warfare, is caused by lack of humility. One nation means to be first over others. It goes beyond the values of friendly competition, leads to tension, poor diplomacy, and an influence upon the general public that leads to negative consequences darkening friendship, changing styles, conflicting agreements, lowering trust – and the list grows long. I was disappointed when many Americans, led by the president, were offended that the Russians had launched a man in space before we did. We should have offered public congratulations. The president would counter by launching a moon landing before the end of his decade. It was done, but the progressive motive is doubtful. Today we wisely cooperate to share whatever benefit accrues. The loss of humility is some loss of earth equality.