Today's Meditation:

One of my great goals in life is to become a truly humble person.  I feel that if I'm able to do so, my life will become much easier and I'll become much more loving and caring.   If I'm truly humble, I will see the incredible value in every single person that I meet, no matter what their current state or position in life.  If I'm able to see this, I can be a much more effective teacher, and I can help people to see their own beauty and value and believe in it.

I'm not sure, but I think I'm on my way there.  Since I find humility to be so important, I try to remind myself constantly just what John says--anything I'm able to do well, that gift comes through me, and I haven't really done anything to create that gift.  I'm able to write fairly well, but that's a gift that's been with me since I can remember, and I had nothing to do with it being a part of who I am.

If I take credit for everything good in my life, then I really have no chance at being truly humble.  I also have little chance of being able to help other people see their own gifts and understand the good fortune they have to possess those gifts.  One of the most important aspects of humility is that it allows us to feel true gratitude, and true gratitude is a key that opens up the marvels of this world on an entirely different, extremely beautiful level.

Questions to consider:

Are you humble?  What are some traits of yours that indicate humility?

Would you rather be around a truly humble person (not someone who plays at being humble!) or a person who gives him or her self credit for everything (deserved credit or not)?  Why?

Where do our gifts and talents come from?  Have we created them ourselves?

For further thought:

Many people believe that humility is the opposite of pride,
when, in fact, it is a point of equilibrium.  The opposite of
pride is actually a lack of self-esteem.  A humble person
is totally different from a person who cannot recognize
and appreciate himself as part of this worlds marvels.

Rabino Nilton Bonder

Today's quotation:

I believe that the first test of a truly great person is his or her humility.  I do not mean by humility, doubt of his or her own powers.  But really great people have a curious feeling that the greatness is not in them, but through them.  And they see something divine in every other person.

John Ruskin

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Art Courtsey of DiamondGirl
Used with permission 2008