Humility

It’s been mentioned once or twice recently that when it comes to public service, whether in the King or Prime Minister, humility is an asset. Well, I think it’s an asset for all of us.

 I suspect that humility sometimes gets a bad press and is often interpreted as weakness. Yet, even the most principled advocate of a particular idea can surely benefit from an open mind and the concept that more light and insight can dawn on any of us.

 Uriah Heap, in Dickens’ David Copperfield mistakenly called himself ‘umble’. In truth, he was anything but; instead, he was a scheming and power-seeking individual hiding behind a false persona.

 Humility often lets the light in as we glimpse the possibility of another viewpoint or opinion other than our own. Humility creates space for dialogue and, for Christians, helps us see Jesus in others.

 None of this devalues our beliefs and convictions, but can end up deepening and expanding them.

Blog Holiday next week