Pride versus Humility

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. – The Bible, Proverbs 16:18 KJV.

Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.  – The Bible, Proverbs 16:19

I have often seen in my own life that when I get all cocky and arrogant and full of myself, God is always there to remind me that is not the case.  I have grown proud on many occasions, only to be humbled rather harshly.  Now some might attribute this to kharma, back luck, or some other source than God.  In fact, many might not agree that God acts in such a way, but I do.  The reason is, I am always a much better person and much happier when I am humble.  I have seen this in my own family, my friends, and my offspring.  When we are haughty, we will soon be humbled.  When we are humble, we live better.

This has become such a fact to me that many of my relatives and friends are probably bored and annoyed with me saying it.  Every time I fear that I, or someone close to me, is getting too arrogant, I say, Pride goeth before the Fall.  I know it’s not a proper translation, but I like the way it rolls of the tongue.  I always mean it as a friendly caution, whether to me, or to others.  Believe me, it is all too common a problem for me personally, so I remind myself the most.

I have seen many politicians that get full of themselves, only to go down in flames in scandal.  The same for famous sports or movie folks.  Congressman Wiener, Lindsay Lohan, Brett Fahvre, Donald Trump – hey we could make a list as long as the census couldn’t we?

I have some friends that are much nicer than I am.  In fact, nearly everyone is nicer than I am.  I grew up abused and I grew a thick, cynical crusty shell.  My friend Frank Chow,  my recent friend Cameron Milkins – they are people I aspire to be like.  They face life with humility and it makes them wonderful people. 

Pride in your children, in a job well done, in a successful project are all good things.  But thinking too highly of yourself, not realizing how lucky you are to live today in a relatively free society, to not worry about food and shelter, your talents you were born with – those things are not from you, they are from God.  In Henry V, my favorite Shakespeare play, King Henry, after winning the battle of Agincourt (the most lopsided victory since the 300 Spartans), decrees that any man who claims credit and does not give all credit to God, would be slain.  His army of some 5,000 diseased troops faced around 40,000 heavily armed and fresh Frenchman.  He lost less than 100, they lost over 10,000 and surrendered.  In those highest moments in our lives is when we must remain the most humble and thankful.

I have so many blessings in my life, my wife, my children, my friends.  I have been given talents and limitations in my life for which I am thankful.  I am not usually ‘preachy’ like this but watching the politicians in all parties during this election cycle has made me sick of the whole thing.  In America especially, the media likes to build up a hero then crush them.  Charlie Sheen is one example.  Ashton Kutchner was a hero for marrying an older woman.  Now he is a bastard for leaving her.  When I was growing up, my history books told me our founding fathers were brave, meaningful people who risked their lives to build a free country.  Now history books say they were arrogant rich white men oppressing the Native Americans and allowing slavery.

It is a cautionary note which leads me to write this.  For myself, for everyone, our lives are brief.  We are given our talents and our limits.  It is how we live that is truly ours.  Are we honest, forgiving, kind, loving of our neighbors?  Or are we self-centered, greedy and only looking out for ourselves?  Every day I say to myself –

Pride goes before the fall…