Lessons for the Over-Achiever

A lot of the spiritual insights I have encountered lately relate to humility (from humous- clay of the earth). Apart from the need to remain grounded- for me important as in theory  it should stop me going into a headspin about all I have to do etc- it is a reminder that ego doesn't serve us. I am in the process of making a career decision and I see the reminders to be humble as steering me away from factors related to career status and acclaim.

I have been trying to pray during lent- take time each day to sit still, reflect, express gratitude and ask for wisdom. (It hasn't gone so well in the last fortnight, by the by). I have directed toward the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector where the latter's humility in prayer is praised and contrasted against the pharisee's "Thanks that I'm so brilliant" - something of a paraphrase of Luke 18: 9 - 14. I was also pointed to Matthew 11: 28-30:

"Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest... [L]earn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit".

Sacredspace.ie is a great resource  at any time of year but at the moment there's an online retreat available for Lent. The introduction to the retreat includes these words:

This Lenten retreat invites you to remain in the love of him who bows and bends low before you. Ponder and be moved by the One who becomes humble and poor, who goes down the ladder of human promotion instead of up, and who stoops in love before his disciples and before you in order to wash your feet.

Yesterday then, the following reflection was included in a mass leaflet. This is from Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador who was assassinated in 1980 having called on government soldiers to stop carrying out human rights violations. His whole story is fascinating and heartbreaking. This reflection allows us to view our life's work as but part a tiny part of a bigger picture, and humility is necessary in accepting this.

It helps, now and then, to step backand take the long view.
The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts,
it is beyond our vision.
We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of
the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work.
Nothing we do is complete,
which is another way of saying
that the kingdom always lies beyond us.
No statement says all that could be said.
No prayer fully expresses our faith.
No confession brings perfection.
No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
No program accomplishes the church’s mission.
No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
This is what we are about:
We plant seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects beyond our capabilities.
We cannot do everything
and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
This enables us to do something,
and to do it very well.
It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way,
an opportunity for God’s grace to enter and do the rest.
We may never see the end results,
but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
We are workers, not master builders,
ministers, not messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own. Amen."