Spiritual
Humility
“Spiritual
humility is not about getting small, not about debasing oneself, but about
approaching everything and everyone else with a readiness to see goodness and
to be surprised.”
Krista
Tippett (Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living)
Krista
Tippett is one of the loveliest voices in today’s progressive spiritual movement. On
her radio show, On Being, she demonstrates deep respect for people, and for
the movement of spirit through them. In her book, Becoming Wise, she
writes about the “lightness” of people of faith—not because they are
illuminated by their beliefs, but because they have the wisdom and playfulness of children. Instead of labeling “spiritual people” as heavy and deep, she says their
light-heartedness is an indication of their wisdom. She portrays the world as filled
with joy, not sorrow or grief. She speaks of the relief of claiming our love
for each other and seeing that love as an adventure or a calling. She encourages
us to take delight in “the mystery that we are,” and to appreciate the
privilege of having a “robust and resilient hope,” and says our hope has "the power to shift the world on its axis.” She, herself, has a
lightness of spirit that exudes love and non-judgement.
I
remember seeing His Holiness the Dali Lama a few years ago in Birmingham. He
was playful with Mayor William Bell, who was trying to introduce him to a
packed stadium, calling him “the Lord Mayor,” and insisting that he sit with him on
the stage. Clearly, the Mayor wanted nothing more than to escape this
child-like, giggling man, but the Dali Lama was having none of it. He was sweet
and genuine—but he did not allow the mayor to ascend his “high horse,” and
instead invited him to play. That’s the wisdom of the child whom Jesus told us
to become like, saying, “whoever takes the lowly position of this child is
the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:5)
I hope
today finds you light-heated and filled with playful wisdom. If enough of us
were that way, this world might just shift on its axis.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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