Prayables - Genesis 18:27 - Scripture - Prayer

Personal Reflection: Pride and Humility

Humility without pride is just as bad as pride without humility. There's an ancient Hasidic teaching that goes something like this: Carry a piece of paper in one pocket where it is written from Genesis 18:27, "I am but dust and ashes." In the other pocket place a slip of paper from Mishna Sanhedrin 4:5, "For my sake the world was created." Two verses with opposite meanings that come together in balance.

It's important to take on the virtues of both humility and pride. Too much pride and you're obnoxious. Too much humility and you're pathetic. Yes, it's true- you are flesh, destined to become dust and ashes. Yet you're holy in every state of being, and for that you can be proud. Strive for balance and thank God for the choice to take pride in yourself, and for the ability to be humble.

"I am but dust and ashes."
Genesis 18:27

Blog: All About Me

edwardsj113x111 You know how it is with inside jokes. They're only funny right up until they're true.

A group of friends and I have a running joke. One of us will ask someone else in the group for something outrageous. "Because," we'll say, "its all about me." Given the fact that we are all working moms, not one of us believes this. At least not on a good day.

Not long ago, I was waiting to pick up my son after school. Parents were huddled in little groups, obviously passing on some disturbing bit of news. Three weeks into the school year, we were losing two teachers to another school. Was this simply to fix an overcrowding problem? Or were they letting teachers go and shifting others to fill in the gaps? Like everywhere, money is tight in our district. I immediately thought of a friend who teaches at the high school and prayed his job was safe. When we got home, I called him but had to leave a short message.

As the day went on and I didn't get a return call, I worried. After all, I'd be too upset to make phone calls if I'd lost my job. Fortunately, I talked to someone from my son's school and learned that the changes really were limited to moving two teachers. For now, jobs were safe.

What a relief!

But my friend still didn't call back.

And he didn't call back.

Days past and instead of being glad that no one was losing their job, I became resentful. I had called him because I cared. How dare he not call me back?

On Sunday, I spotted him across the sanctuary and my shoulders tightened. I knew he'd say something to me after the service. We always visit and he always apologizes when something keeps him from calling back. But does he really mean it? All balled up in a snit, I worked and worked until I was ready with a snotty response to his upcoming apology.