Humbling

“It’s been a humbling experience.”

My friend said this when she was telling me about something she was going through. 

Isn’t it all a humbling experience?  If you are paying attention and you are gaining in wisdom, life is humbling.

I looked up the word and one dictionary said it means, “Not proud or arrogant, modest”.  It also said, “Having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience”. 

When I say I’m humbled by something, I mean I feel reminded that I am not “all that”.  There is a great song by Lee Ann Womack called “I hope you dance”.   One line in it says, “I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean.”  Oh I can’t stop there…it’s so good!  Here are some of the lyrics:

“I Hope You Dance”

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,

You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,

May you never take one single breath for granted,

GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,

Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,

 

I hope you dance….I hope you dance

 

Sorry…I couldn’t help it.  That song just gets to me.  I’m crying just reading it again. 

I’m reminded of it because of the line about the ocean.  It reminds me that really, we are not “all that”.  We are important and significant and we have a rightful place in the universe. However every once in a while, it would do us some good to stand beside the ocean. 

Oceans and mountains are sure fire ways to remember God is in charge.  Maybe that’s why I feel so at home near both of them.  When I haven’t been to the mountains or the ocean in a while, I long for them. (I’ll take either.)  I want to be near the air, the sound, the silence…all of it.  It’s breathtaking.

Sometimes in the city and the suburbs and the rural towns, our humbling experiences don’t have to do with nature.  Sometimes they have to do with money, usually lack of it.  Or a car that breaks down or a house that feels really cramped.  Sometimes we don’t get the job or we lose the job we have.  Sometimes people we love hurt us.  Sometimes we get sick.  Sometimes we need help.  Sometimes we are not invited.  Sometimes our kids don’t make the team or get the award.  Sometimes we have to reach UP to another person to be gracious.  Sometimes we feel small. 

It’s all part of the journey but it can be so difficult, especially when we’ve kidded ourselves into thinking we were in charge or invincible or the most important.   

I know I’ll play that song for my kids (and for me).  I’ll tell them about the ocean and the universe and our place in it.  I know that one day they’ll understand.  One day they’ll be humbled.  It’s all part of the journey. 

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Proverbs 25:9

©2011 Sue Bidstrup, Great Big Yes™ All Rights Reserved