Humility has a pleasing ring, I think
it’s a promising tactic,
but the side effects seem so steep.

From Ariel at BittersweetLife

So hard to talk about this topic. The ironies and paradoxes keep creeping in. For instance, I’d like to impress you by saying something profound about humiity, but I doubt my ability to do so. Is that humility or is it pride? As long as humility is a tactic instead of an attitude embedded in my soul, can I ever be humble? Why do I even want to be humble? Don’t I really just want others to see my humble goodness and recognize what quality lies beneath my apparent humility? But then what if they don’t? What if no one ever recognizes my humble service? A false humility that subtly calls attention to itself really seems a safer bet.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mt. 11:29

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being
made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became
obedient to death– even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name
that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth
and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

So I wait. I do what I’m called to do, and I rest in the knowledge that God Himself is on my side (or I’m on His). He’ll lift up whatever needs to be noticed in due time. Of course, that kind of life requires trust–that God will be there when I need him, that I don’t have to do the pushing for myself, that God isn’t too busy or too distant, that He really won’t forget me or overlook me. Maybe only a Christian who believes that God was big enough to humble Himself to become a man, even a dead man, can be secure enough to be truly humble, no hidden agendas, just trusting that the same God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead will also redeem my pitiful rags and dress me in white robes to be presented before Him someday as His spotless creation. Apart from that hope, I must keep trying to attract His attention (or your attention) by my works of humility–which turn into pride in my own great humility. Only He can lift me up out of the traffic circle where I drive around and around, chasing humility, then chasing self-esteem.

So today seems like a good day to celebrate three saints who never got much recognition in this life, but who are now among those whose names are known by God in heaven:

John Early, my father-in-law, preached in little country churches, taught school, raised a family and loved the Lord.
Mrs. Dee Jones took me to camp–twice–taught me at church, invited us girls over to her house, invested time in a few girls in a Baptist church in West Texas. She, too, loved the Lord; that’s all.
Joanna Kirsten died before she was born. She never did anything to deserve praise nor condemnation. Yet I believe that she and I will meet someday in heaven, too. I believe the grace of God is wide enough and deep enough that her name, too, is written on His palm. (Isaiah 49:15-16)