One of the hardest lesson we face in life is coming to grips with the following contradiction. (These two things hit up against each other and seemingly can’t be resolved.)
First: God loves you and God loves you uniquely and individually. God has known you from before you were born, when you were still in your mother’s womb; God knows all your strengths; God knows the incredible good you are capable of. God takes delight in you.
Second: In order to realise that extraordinary potential, you’ll need to let go of the need to put yourself first all the time, especially if that means putting others down. You’ll need to set aside thoughts that you’re greater than everyone else.
There is nothing like a near accident to force that sense of humility. It makes you realise that you are not the centre of the universe. It gives you a sense of perspective.
A recent experience drove this home to me. As I was descending from Norton Summit on my bicycle on the weekend, I rounded the middle part of the switchbacks just as a big kangaroo decided to cross the road, causing me to exclaimed, “Oh, schwepps!!!” (or, at least, that was the gist of what I said!). I hit the brakes. The disc brakes on my bike saved me as I hit him head on, instead of him careering into my side. There was quite a surreal moment as his fur touched my hands as I gripped the handlebar and I thought, “That feels nice and soft.” My next thought was, “This is the part where I fall off my bike.” Fortunately, we both stayed upright, but it did cause me to take a moment and think, “Oh, that’s right, I’m not the only thing out here!” It gave me a real sense of perspective.
I think a sense of perspective is one of the keys to humility.
It is when you don’t need to be seen to be the most important thing in the world, that you will actually achieve your best work. It’s when you concentrate on doing something beautiful for its own sake, because it’s a beautiful thing to do, that you will be at your happiest.
Our contribution in this world counts, God notices it, and it echoes in eternity.
The Reverend Dr Theo McCall
School Chaplain