A dose of humility

I watched a man yelling at a car from the sidewalk. He looked like he was trying to start something with the person in the car he was yelling at. His hands were agitated and he looked angry behind his sunglasses and goatee. He walked into the store as I was getting out of my car in the parking lot. He emerged from the store as I stepped on the sidewalk.

He smiled broadly and said “Hi, Jim. Do you remember me?” I confessed that I didn’t. He then stated his name and as I looked at him, I did remember. He introduced me to his girlfriend and went on and on, telling her what a wonderful human being I was, and how I had changed his life. I was grateful to hear that, as it beats the alternative.

However, I don’t think I ever encouraged him to be an “ass” on sidewalks. He had changed his appearance. I remember him being kind of a geek in scrubs. He was now a “player”.

Whenever I am tempted to puff myself up on how wonderful and effective I am, I visualize people like him. I realize that I am just not that powerful.

It does make me wonder how God feels when acting like jerks; we state, “I owe this all to God!” I visualize God in heaven shaking his head muttering, “please stop; you look like an idiot, and I don’t want the credit.” It makes me grateful I am not God.