HUMILITAS

Humility.

“Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. The courage of the heart necessary to undertake tasks which are difficult, tedious or unglamorous, and to graciously accept the sacrifices involved. Reverence for those who have wisdom and those who selflessly teach in love. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one’s own self. Being faithful to promiss, no matter how big or small they may be. Refraining from despair and the ability to confront fear and uncertainty, or intimidation.
1. The state or quality of being humble
2. A disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride.”


Yesterday I left off with First Christian Church’s former Children’s Director Christie, today I’d like to start with her former 2nd in command Michele. Arguably every military wife can fall under this category. “The courage of the heart necessary to undertake tasks which are difficult.” Some of you might think to yourself, “ya, stationed in Hawaii… REAL hard life”. It is actually. Moving around, needing to re-root your family.

It takes a special type of woman to be a military wife. It also takes a special type of woman to be a military Mom. Throw being an active scout Mom on top of that, and it is a bit to handle.

That though is what one of my favorite Scout Adviser’s does. Mom McC as I call her is by far, a poster woman for being Humble. This is a person who drives a four our round trip multiple times in one weekend for not only her own sons, but her sons’ friends also. She is VERY “faithful to promises, no matter how big or small they may be”. Though a great Adviser herself, she is constantly praising other Advisers for their service, “Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one’s own self.”

Without Mom McC, I could not have been half the Lodge Chief that I was,Mom McC has ZERO problems being a stage hand in the theater of life, she is one of the main people who allows limelighters like myself to take center stage in the theater of life. Although lead actors take center stage, they really can only be as effective as their supporting actors, like Charlie has Alan (Two and a Half Men) and House has Wilson, so… I have Andrew.

Andrew has been my primary (non-turtle) partner in crime since December of 2003. In the last 6 and a half years I have witnessed him display every definition of humility more times than I have the time or energy to list here. I will however give you two fairly recent examples. The above picture when Andrew and I came to Australia together in June of 09 and him and his aunt went to visit his ancestors. It was a touching moment that I felt blessed to witness. Also, just a week or so ago, Andrew sacrificed his Spring Break to go on a short term Mission trip to the Crow Indian reservation in South Dakota. Most people I know, would not have done that on their college spring break. I personally… without a doubt… if I was going to school in Missiouri, would be headed down to Florida for Spring Break, certainly not South Dakota. He went though, cause he is different than me. “The state or quality of being humble”.

This is something I struggle with EVERY day. It is one of the three Heavenly Virtues I have the most trouble with. It is even harder when I have a friend like Andrew who enables me :) Actually, truth is, it is hard to be humble when you have a friend like Andrew, because how are you going to out humble that? He already has an upper hand in this, he is a middle child and I am an only child, totally unfair advantage. The fact that I view it as a competition I guess just shows how much work in humility I truly need. I am not the only one however, a large portion of the population could take some lessons from Michele, Mom McC, and Andrew.



Just like Andrew can quote Dr. Wilson’s comments about House toward me… I can do the opposite…


Dr. House (to a patient): “This buddy of mine, I gotta give him ten bucks every time somebody says ‘Thank you’. Imagine that… This guy’s so good (so nice), people THANK him… for telling them that they’re dying… I don’t get thanked that often”