Humility

Humility (n.)

early 14c., “quality of being humble,” from Old French umelite “humility, modesty, sweetness” (Modern French humilité), from Latin humilitatem (nominative humilitas) “lowness, small stature; insignificance; baseness, littleness of mind,” in Church Latin “meekness,” from humilis “lowly, humble,” literally “on the ground,” from humus “earth”

(Source- etymonline)

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way                          Psalm 25:9

I was struck by one of the speakers at Chautauqua this past week when he explained the root meaning of the word humility. It literally comes from the word humus, or “earth”. I find it meaningful that humility really means “grounded” in every sense of the word. A person with humility is a person who is grounded- one who knows where he/she stands.

A grounded person has perspective on both strengths and weaknesses- flaws as well as gifts.  We are of course talking about true humility, not hubris disguised by false humility. True humility is a reasoned understanding of ourselves- a sense of self-awareness.

I often tell my clients that humility is the beginning of wisdom, and I think that the excerpt from Psalm 25 would agree. That old saying, “When the student is ready, the master will appear” has much truth in it. When we are ready to learn, things that have been around us but not absorbed, will suddenly appear when we have the humility to receive it.  

Prayer: Lord, help us to see ourselves in a true grounded sense, knowing that you love us right where we are, Amen