James 4:10 ESV
Humility, true humility is seen through the lens of love, for humility in and of itself can be pointless.
In Screwtape Letters C.S. Lewis wrote, “By this virtue, as by all others, [God] wants to turn [our] attention away from self, to Him and [to our] neighbors.”
The great (and sometimes not so great) thing about retirement is that we have the opportunity to slow our thought processes from time to time. We actually have time to ponder.
While some may not see that as something to be desired, I happen to think it’s a wonderful gift. For the first time in many decades I can sit with God and snuggle.
I have time to reflect.
It seems to me the first half of my life was spent doing everything that needs to be accomplished. Sometimes that was very frustrating and sometimes it was fulfilling.
When I was fifty years old someone told me about a Spiritual Director who “sat” with people to discuss spiritual matters and life. At that time I had experienced a major life change. After being a couple for 32 years I was single again. The change came about swiftly and unexpectedly. I was at a loss.
So, I called the Spiritual Director and scheduled time to meet with him. He was an Irish Catholic priest and with his guidance I was gradually able to forge a new path.
I was able to stop thinking about myself and my pain and turn my thoughts to moving forward to a new life.
That new life included humility and love toward God and others.
In retrospect, I gradually came to realize that my new life was filled with new opportunities and ways to serve. While I loved my old life of being married and raising my children, now I had time to write and play. I’d never really done much drawing beyond what I called doodling but I always loved to doodle.
In my new life I could write stories and even songs and I could explore the world of drawing. I discovered I loved it. In college I majored in Communication (Speech) and I had been a speaker all my life. Now I had time to explore writing and drawing.
It was a whole new beginning.
James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”
That’s exactly what happened. God pointed me to my new way. It was my new Secret Weapon!
Let Jesus/God exalt you.
Through Jesus/God,
Deborah
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