Humility and Growth

At the heart of all genuine faith and all authentic change and conversion, whether sudden or gradual, dramatic or quiet, is humility. Spiritual growth and maturity require us to acknowledge that there are limits to our own strength, goodness, and knowledge. We need to be able to admit: “I was wrong. I don’t know. I need help.”

I was wrong: I am not going to build elaborate justifications, not going to hide behind pseudo-holiness, not going to wear the mask of self-righteousness, and not going to insist that the fault is always someone else’s.

I don’t know; I didn’t know: I acted out of ignorance I thought was wisdom. I understood too little and too late. I said yes when I should have said no. I failed to listen. I failed to see.

I need help: strong as I am, and strong as I want you to think I am, I still need a place, a person, a community where I can receive as well as give, be sheltered as well as shelter, to rest as well as to work, to play as well as to serve, to worship as well as to lead.

I was wrong. I don’t know. I need help. God always, always, meets that kind of spirit with the truth that sets us free, peace that gives us rest, and joy that finds us, over and over again.