Today's Theme: Humility

Pause before you judge.

Theme for the 13th day of the month:

“What’s in it for me?” “I want it my way!” These familiar phrases reflect the drive to promote a personal agenda. When this drive is carried out aggressively, and at the expense of others, it can be disastrous to peace.

Humility is one of the true gifts of life. It’s a natural companion to peace. Rather than assuming that we’re right or wrong, which is so characteristic of pride, humility allows us to experience life without the bias of a self-serving lens. It helps us temper the ever-present human tendency to judge and criticize, inevitably creating walls and wars.

Today’s theme is about cultivating humility in our interactions with others. It’s about refusing the temptation to feel superior or inferior to anyone. By doing so, we quiet the inner dialog that relentlessly assesses the virtues and values of others, and draws conclusions without all the facts. We can make the choice to sacrifice those things we might say that fall into the category of gossip, mean-spirited opinions, and unnecessary criticism—the common battles of daily life.

These negative expressions arise in moments when emotional turmoil and the urge to be right are stronger than the hunger for peace. It’s easy to forget. The drive for power is part of human nature. We can see the consequences of it many times every day in our personal interactions as well as in world events. It remains one of the greatest challenges to a sustainable peace. Not one of us is exempt from this challenge. How we deal with it, in ourselves and in others, is one of the key themes of our times. History will record the outcome of our choices.

The cultivation of humility supports us in embracing diversity, so important to the health of the rhythm of peace. We strive to seek solutions that build relationships and refuse actions that destroy them. Humility helps us make necessary course corrections when we need to, instead of stubbornly defending positions and actions that are not working. It leaves us open to discovering new and fruitful solutions to the conflicts we have with each other. With humility, we pause before we judge, and in that pause lives a world of possibilities.

Download the Rhythm of Peace calendar of daily themes
Rhythm of Peace:  Cultivating Peace in Daily Life

Check back tomorrow for a new theme!