Humility in practice

[fons_vitae]

I know that humility can consist of simply being honest with one’s self. But how exactly does that play out from day to day?

For example: If I tend to have a quick temper at work, and one day I notice that I was able to successfully control myself, what would be the humble response? Of course I’d thank God for the grace to succeed, but is it alright for me to note that I’m growing in virtue, or would that be too presumptuous?

 

[domNoah]

It is important to note that we are growing in progress and attribute the growth to God. As one grows other faults and sins become more apparent and the conscience becomes more sensitive to faults committed.

A new musician is satisfied if he gets most of the notes on a song correct, but a more proficient musician is deeply troubled if he does not get almost all the notes, and an expert is desolate if he does not hit almost all the notes.

If you are tempted to pride, consider how long it has taken for you to make such little progress and how far you have to go in matching the patience of Christ.

 

[JRKH]

I know that humility can consist of simply being honest with one’s self. But how exactly does that play out from day to day?

For example: If I tend to have a quick temper at work, and one day I notice that I was able to successfully control myself, what would be the humble response? Of course I’d thank God for the grace to succeed, but is it alright for me to note that I’m growing in virtue, or would that be too presumptuous?

Nope…What you are doing is just fine…

While it is important to recognize our total dependence on God, it is also important to recognize the importance of our response to the Graces God sends us.
Perhaps the best and most balanced response is…“By God’s grace, I am growing in virtue”.

Peace
James

 

[revert_jen]

A new musician is satisfied if he gets most of the notes on a song correct, but a more proficient musician is deeply troubled if he does not get almost all the notes, and an expert is desolate if he does not hit almost all the notes.

That’s a good analogy, but you didn’t take it far enough.

Any professional classical musician expects to hit almost all of the notes. “Hitting the notes” is no longer his goal. (In some cases this means that his goal now is to be paid enough to be able to eat fairly regularly and sleep indoors. But we’ll ignore that for the moment ) His musical goal now is to understand the piece of music and play the notes with the expression that makes each individual piece of music tell its best truth. For a very good musician, this may mean trying to understand the mind of the composer and trying to express the composer’s thoughts. For a genius, it means understanding the music without the “interference” of the composer–understanding the “soul” of the music and communicating that to others so they can understand as well.

As you grow in spiritual life you will begin to worry not as much about sins committed in deed, but even wrong motives for good acts–It’s not enough to do the right thing, you have to do it for the right reason (with the right expression). If you become a very good person indeed, you will really come to detest all sin because of the offense it is to God, because you have come to know God better and understand deep down why offending God is always wrong. If you become a great saint, you will come to a place where you have aligned your will to that of God to such an extent that you can play your own life as a piece of music–it will no longer be merely “Thy will be done” but “Thy will be my will.” (Note: Christ had no need to pray the latter sentence because it was always the case, but we are fallen, and we need to get to that place.) Pride does not happen in the last stage because attention is too focused on God.

Note: I do NOT know all of this by internal experience, but I’ve sometimes experienced the very beginnings of it myself and I have seen the later stages in a very few others.

So, yes it is OK to note that you have made progress. It would be silly to pretend you haven’t if you have–humility does not require you to lie to yourself. Looking at how far we all have to go should be a good aid to humility, however.

–Jen

 

[R_C]

I know that humility can consist of simply being honest with one’s self. But how exactly does that play out from day to day?

For example: If I tend to have a quick temper at work, and one day I notice that I was able to successfully control myself, what would be the humble response? Of course I’d thank God for the grace to succeed, but is it alright for me to note that I’m growing in virtue, or would that be too presumptuous?

I’d consider it alright, inasmuch as you are aware that it is through God’s grace that you have grown in virtue, and that it was a very tiny step in the path of perfection

Humility, in a way, is simplicity. Not thinking much of ourselves or of what we have done / do / will do. As an example of humility, I love when Jesus, with utter simplicity, probably smiling, looked a man who had just asked him something and said: “Why do you call me good?”

 

[Lady_Love]

I’m always happy and proud of myself when I cooperate with grace! I love it when God uses me somehow to do His work, even when I didn’t know I was doing it.

 

[fred_conty]

I know that humility can consist of simply being honest with one’s self. But how exactly does that play out from day to day?

For example: If I tend to have a quick temper at work, and one day I notice that I was able to successfully control myself, what would be the humble response? Of course I’d thank God for the grace to succeed, but is it alright for me to note that I’m growing in virtue, or would that be too presumptuous?

Humility is honesty. The bible says that St. Joseph was a just man. Meaning that he gave to everyone their just due.

Just a thought.

 

[OraLabora]

The biggest danger with humility is that it can turn into a source of pride, like anything else. Then it is false humility.

I recommend reading the Rule of St. Benedict, especially the 12 degrees of humility (chapter 7).

I don’t think it’s something one can really force one’s self to be, then it either is too superficial, false (in the sense that it’s not a true reflection of what we feel deep down) or a source of pride. It is only attained through extensive period of conversion. St. Benedict’s 12 degrees aims to drill it down into the core of your soul, starting at a very simple level and working down to your heart so that it becomes the very core of your being. It doesn’t happen overnight

 

[fons_vitae]

Humility is honesty. The bible says that St. Joseph was a just man. Meaning that he gave to everyone their just due.

Just a thought.

That’s what was in the back of my mind as well… by simply having an accurate view of yourself in relation to others, you move towards humility…