May 6, 2011: Humility — Paving the path to inner peace, by Gary Champlin

Humility (with its adjective, humble) is the quality of being modest, reverential, even politely submissive — the Bible tells us that Moses was the most humble man alive.

Not everyone regards humility as a virtue, but on our journey to Inner peace it is a necessity.

When I was asked to write for this column “A Year of Peace,” I felt humility — not only because who was asking but because of the past writers and subjects this column has featured.

It is easy to say inner peace starts within one’s self but it is impossible to achieve by oneself.  I further believe inner peace is a journey and not a destination.

Humility is one of the stones used to pave the path to inner peace.

Inner peace in itself is a basic need of all humans.  Without it a void is left open in our being.

We as a society and individually use all sorts of things to try to fill this void but in the end it is fruitless without faith in god.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

By having faith, we can have an ongoing relationship with God.

Faith is nothing more than a positive attitude that what you believe will be.

When I look to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia for the ongoing practice of humility I need not to look farther than just the sisters themselves. I need to look to the fruit of their labor and see it as a testament to God and as benefit to the community as a whole.  They show, with their humility, how God works through great faith and the quality of being modest, reverential, even politely submissive.

By following their lead I can only imagine how far we will come on our personnel journey to inter peace.

We all have within us the ability to express humility.  My grandfather instilled in me at a young age the importance of doing good for others without their knowing.  He practiced this daily and from the smallest of acts came good that benefited many others.

I have a person in my life who practices that kind of humility and when the chaos of this world becomes to much for me, I seek this person out for the strength and council that comes from God working through their humility.

Ultimately Christ lived a life of humility in all things and left us the Lord’s Prayer.

This then, is how you should pray: Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be they name.  They Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen (King James Version, Matthew 6:9-13)

Through Moses’ humility the nation of Israel was delivered form Egypt by God.  What great things can God do through our humility on our journey to inner peace?

— Gary Champlin is a native Concordian and is owner of Champlin Tire Recycling Inc. in Concordia.