“The pride of man humbleth him,
and humility of spirit upholdeth honour.” [1]
Some time ago our Master guided us: “…whoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.” [2], nevertheless frequently we do not follow the many examples that were given to us. The humility is a virtue frequently forgot amongst us [3] and its practice consists of a constant challenge.
It is reported [4] that at the dawn of “October, 1995, a radio conversation between a US naval ship and Canadian Authorities of the coast of Newfoundland took place.
US: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.
CA: We recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.
US: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.
CA: No, I say again, you divert YOUR course.
US: This is the Aircraft Carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States’ Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I DEMAND that you change your course 15 degrees North OR counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship!
CA: We are a lighthouse. Over and out.”
This narrative gives to us an example showing that sometimes, the arrogance blind ourselves. The humility is feature from the human spirit and it does not depend on of the physical or material condition of someone. Thus someone can be rich and humble, poor but proud people. “The simple appearance not always reflects humbleness, as well as haughtiness not always reveals vain pride”. [5]
When our kids pass with honours in the school, we say to them: “Oh, that’s wonderful! Follow on!” We sincerely believe that this psychology is adequated for this level only. Naturally in this stage we need to encourage them to do the things well, their education is responsibility of us. However with the self-knowledge and once someone turns himself an adult, we know our real capacities, we are conscious of our qualities, faults and virtues that are already conquest of our Spirit. Hence we should not need other people flatter us, this situation would conduce us to the absence of humbleness. The own action to announce oneself as humility person turns one insensate. André Luiz indicates: “All type of presumption is evidence Gospel deviation.”[6]
Pride (antonym of humility) induces us to judge ourselves to be more than we are, to repel any comparison which might discredit us and to consider ourselves be so much higher than our fellows. [7]
Sometimes and in some situations, is unavoidable receive praise, applauses and not leave that these situations affect us is not an easy task (remember our condition in this planet right now). For this reason in this article it was considered a true “art”. Praise is an invitation to emerge the pride that lives inside us. Remember again on phrase of André Luiz when recommended us: “Praise is always dispensable” [8].
Finally we remember a phrase of our brother Chico Xavier, in which revealed his “secret” to not allow the pride emerge in situations as the described above and thus, promoting in ourselves advances in this sense: “I have always received praise from friends, as incentive to be what I am conscious that I am not yet.”
Kind regards,
Fraternity.
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References
[1] Proverbs, 29, 23.
[2] Matthew, 23, 12.
[3] The Gospel According to Spiritism – Allan Kardec, Chap. VII – “Pride and humility”.
[4] http://www.snopes.com/military/lighthouse.asp . And see the comments of the US Navy about this rumour: http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id=174 . Although this not seems to be a true history we can use it for instruction.
[5] Invitaciones de la Vida – Joana de Angelis, “Invitación a la renovación”
[6] Conducta Espirita – André Luiz, cap. 18 – “Ante nosotros mismos”
[7] The Gospel According to Spiritism – Allan Kardec, Chap. IX – “Anger”
[8] Conducta Espirita – André Luiz, cap. 20 – “Ante los compañeros”
