The Color of Humility

“There is nothing noble

in being superior to your fellow man;

true nobility

is being superior to your former self.” 

(Ernest Hemingway)

A dusty old memory: An embarrassing moment of forgetfulness during a Sunday School Christmas pageant when I was about seven years old. This moment of fear left an indelible mark upon me. For decades to follow, a quiet voice reminded me that I was an untalented person. In false humility, I looked up to those I perceived as gifted, even as I derided my own abilities.  

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself;

it is thinking of yourself less.” 

(C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

As I have grown over the years, that voice of judgment has become subdued, a bare whisper of wind on dark days. I have learned that I am a gift to our world, full to the brim with wondrous potential, all of which is ignited and set ablaze by Love. This perhaps, does not sound terribly humble; therein is the twist. Humility is not about denying our greatness; humility stands in awe of one's own greatness even as it exalts in the beauty of every being it meets.

“Be careful

not to mistake insecurity

and inadequacy for humility!

Humility has nothing to do with the insecure and inadequate!

Just like arrogance has nothing to do with greatness!” 

(C. JoyBell C.)

Love has spent a lifetime shaping us, smoothing rough edges, and shinning radiantly through the cracks of our clay shell. It in no way desires that we deny its power as expressed through our unique gifts and experiences. There is no one else on earth that is just like you; no other expression of Divine Light will touch the world in the same way as that which flows through you. 

The challenge of humility then is to know and honor your strength, your power, your ability to heal this world, and to do so quietly within the sanctuary of your own heart. In this way, you are freed to be brilliant even as you draw out the brilliance of others. Is this not our mission - to be secure in who we are so that we might be agents of change and renewal for all of creation? 

“It is not for me to judge another man's life.

I must judge, I must choose,

I must spurn, purely for myself.

For myself, alone.” 

(Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha)

As tempting as it is to lift ourselves up by tearing others down, in so doing we only deny our deepest truth: We are beautifully created and wonderfully made. Even so, we will not navigate this world perfectly. The glass of our being, through which the Light of Love shines, is easily smudged, sometimes even caked with life's detritus. Humility then is knowing the Light that endeavors to pour through us, even as we yearn to discover that same light flowing through our neighbor.

I count it an awesome privilege when I am given the sight to see Love pouring from those wherein I least expected to find it. May the Love that you are exalt in the Love that defines others. 

I leave the last word to a humble man, Martin Luther:

“True humility does not know that it is humble.

If it did, it would be proud from the contemplation

of so fine a virtue.”
(Martin Luther)

The color of humility...

the strength of the bridge rejoicing in the vibrations of traffic.

I looked

in the

mirror

and wept

with

Joy

For I saw

there

the face

of

my

enemy

Pray

Laugh

Shine

To Ponder Further:

- From the Bible: "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 14.11)

- From Islam: "Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers, and who shun vain conversation, and who are payers of the poor-due, and who guard their modesty." 

(Qur'an 23.1-5)

- From Hinduism: 

"Be humble, be harmless,

Have no pretension,

Be upright, forbearing;

Serve your teacher in true obedience,

Keeping the mind and body in cleanness,

Tranquil, steadfast, master of ego,

Standing apart from the things of the senses,

Free from self;

Aware of the weakness in mortal nature.

                  (Bhagavad Gita 13.7-8)

The Color of Entrepreneurs

“There’s lots of bad reasons to start a company.

But there’s only one good, legitimate reason,

and I think you know what it is:

it’s to change the world.” 

(Phil Libin, CEO of Evernote)

I have, for the bulk of my working years, been an employee rather than an employer. I began serving the world and earning money in elementary school when I would help my next-door-neighbor with his paper route when he was away. At 15 I began work at Macleods Hardware, followed by a summer in the Junior Forest Ranger program, then on to grocery deliveries at Lindhal's grocery. Life after high school introduced me to a long line of people and companies willing to take me under their employ.

Through all of those jobs and employers I do not recall stopping to consider the perspective of the people taking the risks as entrepreneurs. And there are huge risks. As employees our mission is simple - do the tasks assigned, change the world, get paid, go home. If the position comes with benefits such as health and dental or pension then we enjoy those perks without consideration of the cost to the company employing us. The owner of a business, however, does not have the luxury of such simplicity. 

In addition to ensuring that they make a living for their own household, employers have the responsibility of providing income for each of their employees. While wage-earners may find their work day book-ended with specific start and end times, owners work as many hours as are needed to make the business function. The responsibility that comes with taking on an employee can weigh heavy on an business man or woman.

“Inviting someone to work for pay

is a sacred privilege and a trust.

It must be regarded a high honor

to be able to give another person work,

and neither employer nor employee

should abuse this relationship” 

(Judy Frankel)

While I do not suggest that all business owners and corporations are just in their relationships to those they employ, as a whole they provide the backbone for our economy. Most of us have neither the skills nor the interest in being owners. We are content to receive our wages and have our evenings and weekends free for other things. We end our work days blissfully unaware that our employers may be working late into the evening and through the weekend to ensure that we have jobs to go to in the morning.

“The secret to successful hiring is this:

look for the people who want to change the world.” 

(Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce)

Entrepreneurs have the potential to make positive change in our world by creating opportunities for employees to use their gifts in a meaningful way. The many jobs in which I've been employed over the years have opened doors to meet people, encourage them, and in some way, great or small, make their lives a little bit better. If not for a willing employer those opportunities would never have arisen.

I am deeply grateful for all of business owners in my city. These women and men weave their employees and clients into the fabric that is our community. They take huge risks to do their work, they put in long hours, and sometimes at the end of the month, especially in hard economic times, they have little to show for it. Still, they mentor us, give us hope, and month by month by month... they provide our paycheck. This is Love in action, Love flowing through us, through employers, through communities.

Give thanks today for the entrepreneurial spirit that guides the employers in your life. 

I leave the last word to Ziad Abkelnour:

“Job tip:

If you were the employer,

what kind of person

would you most desire as an employee?

Be that person.” 

(Ziad K. Abdelnour, Economic Warfare: Secrets of Wealth Creation in the Age of Welfare Politics)

The color of entrepreneurs...

workforce parents.

We danced

together

you and

I

the music

of

economy

guiding our feet

and together

we

thrived

Work

Laugh

Pray

For Further Reflection:
- From the Bible: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters..." (Colossians 3.23)

- From Sikhism: "One who claims to be a saint, and goes about begging - touch not his feet! He whose livelihood is earned through work, and part given away in charity - such a one, Nanak, truly knows the way to God. " ( Adi Granth, Var Sarang, M.1, p. 1245)

- From Hinduism: "Work is worship." (Virashaiva Proverb)