Awakening to Wholeness is a series of prompts, reflections, and teachings about how holding the tension of opposites can help us to heal division and experience wholeness. If you feel moved to share your own reflections, we invite you to email us with the subject line “Wisdom of Opposites” or tag us on social media with #EHoPWisdomOfOpposites.
In the Rule of Benedict, written over 1,500 years ago, treatment of the topic of humility is the longest single theme in the whole text. Benedict presents 12 rungs on a ladder of humility and suggests that those who wish to become most fully human, made in the image and likeness of a loving God, can expect to undergo a long and dynamic journey with many ups and many downs.
In real life, the ladder of humility is not a one and done deal: the path involves daily, concrete, and ordinary work, both internal and external. Thus, the path of humility takes on a rhythm marked by the tensions between work and prayer, ordinary and sacred, human and divine. The goal on the path is to seek only God, and therefore, to become fully alive as you mature into being what and who you were created as—a human being made in the image and likeness of God.
One of my favorite ways to summarize or define the work of humility is simply to become exactly what you already are, nothing more and nothing less. Those who struggle with trying to be “more than” they actually are will face the temptation of arrogance (the side of the coin often culturally attributed to men and masculinity). Those who struggle with trying to be “less than” they actually are will face the temptation of false humility. Since humility, really, is not about humiliation or belittling oneself (the side of the coin often culturally attributed to women and femininity), but is rather about simply being and becoming what you actually, already are, neither the “more than” nor the “less than” routes will efficiently move us along the path of humility. Both arrogance and under-esteem, ultimately, keep the seeker stuck in the obstacle of self—either too much or not enough of self.
The person of Jesus, a Jewish man who became affiliated with the Christian family, is a good model. He was recognized as One who could be both human and divine, really and actually. We do well to observe his ways and his teachings if we want to take seriously the path of humility, with all its rungs on the ladder, up and down, connecting the earth and the heavens, humanity and divinity. May we become all that we really, truly are as we journey along the path of humility seeking only God.
Contemplative Questions
We offer the following questions as prompts to help you reflect on the presence of opposites in your spiritual practice and your life.
- Can you think of a time when you faced the temptation of arrogance? How did you try to be “more than” you actually are? How did it feel?
- Can you think of a time when you faced the temptation of false humility? How did you try to be “less than” you actually are? How did it feel?
- How would you describe your overall experience on the path of humility, becoming more fully who you are as you seek God?
Join the conversation! If you feel moved to share your reflections, we invite you to email us with the subject line “Wisdom of Opposites” or tag us on social media with #EHoPWisdomOfOpposites.
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Christine Luna Munger
Christine Luna Munger, PhD currently serves as the director of the Episcopal House of Prayer. She previously served as Coordinator of the Spiritual Direction Certificate and Professor of Theology at St. Catherine University. She regularly writes, teaches, and leads group prayer sits at EHoP.
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