"But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.” – Daniel 12:3
Ugh, I should have known better! Why am I such a dummy?!
Have those words ever crossed your mind after a particularly disappointing event? Have you ever let them roll off your tongue after making a mistake? I know I have, because I have made a lot of mistakes, and also, because I have a prideful tendency to believe that I am better than I actually am.
Let me take you back almost twenty years. I was in the first grade and was being taught by a wonderful little nun named Sister Henrietta. When it came time to meet with my parents and discuss my progress, she said that my grades were fine, but my attitude was not. I was taking my studies and myself so seriously that whenever I made a mistake on a math problem I would become furious and (almost) literally beat myself up.
My little first-grade self seemed to think that I shouldn’t make a mistake. I felt like I was supposed to be perfect. Upon deeper examination, this mindset could only stem from one, false conclusion: I must have thought that I actually was perfect. There could be no other reason for me to get so upset at my faults.
Here is the point Sister Henrietta was trying to help me understand: Believing you are perfect is more deadly than actually making a mistake.
The man who thinks he is perfect does not live in reality. Nor does he recognize the truth, and so he separates himself from God, Who is Truth.
But, the man who admits his mistakes and acknowledges his weakness lines himself up face-to-face with Reality. He becomes justified with the Truth, in the same way that the left side of these paragraphs are justified, or aligned, with the invisible edge of the page.
Unless we are conformed, aligned, and justified to the Truth, we will never experience true peace or joy. Here we can learn from the angels, who “fly because they take themselves lightly,” as G.K. Chesterton famously wrote. Indeed, Lucifer fell from heaven, because he took himself quite seriously. He thought he was far greater than he really was, and eventually the gravity of his pride pulled him down.
Unlike him, we would do well to imitate Saint Paul and “boast most gladly of [our] weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell with [us].” (2 Cor. 12:9) Then we will truly know Perfection.
Heavenly Father, grant us the wisdom of humility. Bring us into right relationship with Yourself, through Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns forever and ever, amen.
