Thursday, December 9, 2010

Humility and Space/Grace

Reading Crossing the Desert by Robert J. Wicks, I came across this anonymous poem:

I had a dream that death
Came the other night,
And Heaven's gate swung wide open.

With kindly grace
An angel ushered me inside;
Adn there to my astonishment
Stood folks I had known on earth
And some I had judged
And labeled unfit and of little worth.

Indignant words rose to my lips,
But were never set free;
for every face showed stunned surprise,
Not one expected me.

Wicks includes the poem in his chapter on humility, which is a knowledge of ourselves that is transformed into wisdom.  Humility, he says, leads us to open new space within ourselves where we and others can experience true freedom and love.  Again, he tells the story of a Desert Father, a monk, to whom the Devil appeared in the guise of an angel.  The Devil said, "I am the angel Gabriel and I have been sent to you."  The Desert Father replied, "See if you are not being sent to someone else.  I certainly do not deserve to have an angel sent to me."  Immediately, the Devil disappeared.

I love Wick's idea that humility opens space in our lives:
  • space for simplicity
  • space for solitude
  • space for pacing ourselves
  • space for gratefulness and giftedness
  • space for honesty and clarity
  • space for real relationships
  • space for restraint
  • space for doubt and deeper questions
  • space for reflection
  • space for generosity
  • space for transparency
  • space for forgiveness
  • space for truth
  • space for courage
There is more, but you'll have to read the book for yourself.....although I may include a bit more tomorrow.

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