Humility

Last night I was at the Blink (a hang out place at Covenant College in Carter Hall where you can by sandwiches and snacks) having a jolly time with a couple of friends. After we had finished our late-night snacks we exited the Blink and began heading out of Carter Hall. Having just enjoyed lively and jocund interaction with my friends, I was by this time feeling quite sure of myself, and somewhat giddy. So we approached the door–it was one of those doors that opens by pushing in a bar–and in a flash of exuberance I decided (although I did not give it much thought) it would be amusing to rush at the door and burst through it instead of walk through it. Just as I arrived at the door I thought, “You know, I probably shouldn’t be doing this. There might be somebody on the other side (the door opened out).” Sure enough, instead of flying through the door I was stopped abruptly by a mass on the other side. I heard a girl exclaim, “Holy cow!” I opened the door and apologized rather hastily. She did not seem very nonplussed, however, and slipped by and headed to the Blink. Needless to say, I was embarrased and quite ashamed.

On the other hand, grateful that no one was harmed, I thanked God for the event because through it He reminded me of my humanness and my fallennes. If I had not been so sure of myself, so proud, perhaps I would not have been so thoughtless. I am thankful for the little ways in which God reminds me to be humble. Sometimes I am reminded by just tripping and almost falling down the stairs. When I am proud my relationships with others become less meaningful. It creates a divide between me and other people. In fact, it seems to create a divide between me and everything else, making it difficult (I suspect impossible) to properly enjoy anything. On the other hand, it is so freeing to remember who I am before God, a sinner yet also His loved child. It is easier for me to be myself and not be so afraid of or controlled by my circumstances. Humility before God is a door into freedom.