Opening Reflections
In you, O Lord, I take refuge.
Let me never be put to shame.
In your justice, set me free,
hear me and speedily rescue me.
(Bible, Psalm 31)
Let me never be put to shame.
In your justice, set me free,
hear me and speedily rescue me.
(Bible, Psalm 31)
Reading
True words are not elaborate.
Elaborate words are not true.
Good people do not argue.
People who argue are not good.
People who know are not full of facts.
People who are full of facts do not know.
The sage does not hoard.
She increases her treasure by
working for her fellow human beings.
She increases her abundance
by giving herself to them.
The way of heaven:
benefit all, harm none.
The way of the sage: work for all,
contend with none.
(Tao te ching, #81
Elaborate words are not true.
Good people do not argue.
People who argue are not good.
People who know are not full of facts.
People who are full of facts do not know.
The sage does not hoard.
She increases her treasure by
working for her fellow human beings.
She increases her abundance
by giving herself to them.
The way of heaven:
benefit all, harm none.
The way of the sage: work for all,
contend with none.
(Tao te ching, #81
Meditation
Reading
Reading
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.[3]
Meditation
Sermon
Sermon
"Humility" is derived from the Latin word humus or earth;
the humble person has his/her feet on the ground.
Levelheaded and truthful,
those with humility are not the center
of their own universe.
Rather they are centered on God and on others.
the humble person has his/her feet on the ground.
Levelheaded and truthful,
those with humility are not the center
of their own universe.
Rather they are centered on God and on others.
In his book Everyday Greatness (Rutledge Hill Press, 2006),
Stephen R. Covey included a chapter on humility in which he quoted Groucho Marx.
Marx told the story of a nurse so taken with her own beauty
that each time she took a man’s pulse,
she subtracted 10 points to compensate for what her looks did to his heartbeat.
Covey also quoted Sam Walton (the founder of Wal-Mart), who said,
“It is unhealthy to marinate in your own press clippings.”
In a like manner, Frank Tyger advised, “Swallow your pride. It’s non-fattening.”
After his epic saga Roots was published in 1976,
Alex Haley said that in his office
he had a picture of a turtle sitting on a fencepost.
When he looked at it, Haley remembered a lesson taught to him
by his friend John Gaines:
“If you see a turtle on top of a fencepost,
you know he had some help.”
Said Haley, “Anytime I start thinking,
‘Wow, isn’t this marvelous what I’ve done!’
I look at that picture and remember how this turtle -- me --
got up on that post.”
[4]
Stephen R. Covey included a chapter on humility in which he quoted Groucho Marx.
Marx told the story of a nurse so taken with her own beauty
that each time she took a man’s pulse,
she subtracted 10 points to compensate for what her looks did to his heartbeat.
Covey also quoted Sam Walton (the founder of Wal-Mart), who said,
“It is unhealthy to marinate in your own press clippings.”
In a like manner, Frank Tyger advised, “Swallow your pride. It’s non-fattening.”
After his epic saga Roots was published in 1976,
Alex Haley said that in his office
he had a picture of a turtle sitting on a fencepost.
When he looked at it, Haley remembered a lesson taught to him
by his friend John Gaines:
“If you see a turtle on top of a fencepost,
you know he had some help.”
Said Haley, “Anytime I start thinking,
‘Wow, isn’t this marvelous what I’ve done!’
I look at that picture and remember how this turtle -- me --
got up on that post.”
[4]
Memory Verse
The servants of the most merciful are
those who walk upon the earth in humility,
and when the ignorant address them,
they say words of peace. (Sarah al Furqan 25:63)
those who walk upon the earth in humility,
and when the ignorant address them,
they say words of peace. (Sarah al Furqan 25:63)
Closing Prayer
Oh, Great Spirit
Whose voice I hear in the winds,
And whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me, I am small and weak,
I need your strength and wisdom.
Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold
the red and purple sunset.
Make my hands respect the things you have
made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand the things
you have taught my people.
Let me learn the lessons you have
hidden in every leaf and rock.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother,
but to fight my greatest enemy - myself.
Make me always ready to come to you
with clean hands and straight eyes.
So when life fades, as the fading sunset,
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