Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Waxing Confident



processing while writing...

I have learned and I am continually learning that many people have trouble differentiating between arrogance and confidence. Arrogance and self righteousness...peas in a pod. Truthfully, we've all experienced our own brand of self righteousness. Yet there is a marked distinction between momentary blindness and choosing to perpetually hoodwink ourselves. Confidence allows one to admit error and, from the "fruit" of understanding, willingly submit to the consequences of one's error or poor choice. 

Clarity...no longer "seeing in a mirror dimly." For me, the confident among us are those who do not hide their imperfections. They are forgiving of their own imperfections and forgiving of imperfection in others. Yet in this understanding they recognize the necessity of taking responsibility for their imperfections...owning them through and through. You can not transcend what you do not own, accept.  Those who choose arrogance as a way of life, in my opinion, avoid genuinely apologizing (they say "I'm sorry" begrudgingly)...avoid restorative acts, rectifying their errors. Confident people commit to the course of growth no matter its difficulty. The most confident people I know are those who understand what it means to walk in humility. 

Humility bends in relationship with others without compromising itself.  Arrogance compromises others and breaks relationship.  How can we thrive while choosing to experience rigor mortis?  The Most High is love and love molds us.  In order to be molded one must submit to the hands of a master-teacher (life)...be teachable.  It is okay to admit error or that one does not know.  Woeful pride and Love are incompatible.  "The meek shall inherit the earth."  To be meek does not mean being a pushover, acquiescing to dishonesty or mistreatment (injustice). Interestingly enough, when we are strongly resisting being a pushover (overly concerning ourselves with others viewing  us as "soft," weak), we are often guilty of pushing over others to save ourselves.  Hmm, does the end justify the means?  Is it okay to enliven our self esteem (the end) by sacrificing, killing the spirit of another on the altar of our pride (the means)?  

For me, to be meek means to recognize and submit to truth.  In my mind, integrity and humility are synonyms.  The life of Jesus the Christ is a profound lesson in humility, integrity.  Unfortunately, we often fixate ourselves upon the rudiment of religion rather than submit to the ever-revealing precepts of life...or even one man's life.     

Blessed are those who recognize their need...those who ask.  To love, to walk in compassion is to be confident.  For me, anything else is counterfeit. 


Taken from 1st Corinthians 13, Amplified Bible...

3 Even if I dole out all that I have [to the poor in providing] food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or [c]in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.

4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

8 Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end].



Be Confident