[Bill,
March 3, 2008]
Spiritual Pride and Hubris
About a week ago, I woke from a fitful dream with the strongest inclination that God was sending me a message: That I was guilty of spiritual pride. I found this something like a lightning bolt — me, spiritual pride? First of all, I didn't even know what spiritual pride meant ... and certainly didn't think of myself as someone who looks down on other people. I mean, I fear God for real and don't take anything for granted.
So I put out a bleg here and another place, and a commenter at the other place said exactly what I needed to know: Spiritual Pride = Faith + Hope.
Now I get it. There's something missing in that equation, and that's the same something that's been missing in my thoughts and actions with other people lately, and missing in my walk with God.
Meanwhile, hubris. Normally, this translates as "excessive pride" or trying to place yourself among the gods, that sort of thing. I don't consider myself guilty of any of that. But then I read something along the lines of ... hubris is also the sense that you can do it all alone. That you don't need any help. If you notice in the old stories, the hero always needs help. And I thought ... yes, in the sense of trying too hard to live my life on my own, and cope with the normal obstacles in my life, yes, I've been guilty of taking it all on myself and not allowing or getting any help. So, hubris, too.
That's what I've been thinking about today. Sure is a beautiful day here, though. It's that first warm spring day of the year, the one where you realize that winter's breathing its last gasp, and the sun is coming back. Enjoy!
So I put out a bleg here and another place, and a commenter at the other place said exactly what I needed to know: Spiritual Pride = Faith + Hope.
Now I get it. There's something missing in that equation, and that's the same something that's been missing in my thoughts and actions with other people lately, and missing in my walk with God.
Meanwhile, hubris. Normally, this translates as "excessive pride" or trying to place yourself among the gods, that sort of thing. I don't consider myself guilty of any of that. But then I read something along the lines of ... hubris is also the sense that you can do it all alone. That you don't need any help. If you notice in the old stories, the hero always needs help. And I thought ... yes, in the sense of trying too hard to live my life on my own, and cope with the normal obstacles in my life, yes, I've been guilty of taking it all on myself and not allowing or getting any help. So, hubris, too.
That's what I've been thinking about today. Sure is a beautiful day here, though. It's that first warm spring day of the year, the one where you realize that winter's breathing its last gasp, and the sun is coming back. Enjoy!