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Recommended Reading
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The Autobiography of Benjamin
Franklin
"In reality, there is, perhaps, no one
of our natural passions so hard to
subdue as pride. Disguise it,
struggle with it, beat it down, stifle
it, mortify it as much as one pleases,
it is still alive, and will every now
and then peep out and show itself; you
will see it, perhaps, often in this
history; for, even if I could conceive
that I had compleatly overcome it, I
should probably be proud of my
humility."
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"As long as we are rich, possessed of
anything in the way of pride or
independence, God cannot do anything for
us." - Oswald Chambers
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"Through pride we are ever deceiving
ourselves. But deep down below the
surface of the average conscience a
still, small voice says to us, something
is out of tune." - Carl Jung
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"A proud man is always looking down on
things and people; and, of course, as
long as you're looking down, you can't
see something that's above you." - C.S.
Lewis
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"If I had only one sermon to preach it
would be a sermon against pride." - G.K.
Chesterton
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Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. - Proverbs 16:18
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God opposes the proud but favors the humble. - Proverbs 3:34
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Ah, summer in the northern hemisphere! Last Monday my family
and I visited the beach at Christie Lake Conservation Area for a
day of rest and relaxation. The people at Christie have
installed a special screen that allows them to chlorinate part
of the water and keep it separate from the rest of the lake.
Swimming outside of this designated swimming area could pose a
health risk, and is prohibited.
Of course, we didn't know that until my wife and nephew David
- the designated family rebels - decided to test their endurance
by swimming beyond the screen to the other side of the lake and
back.
As they returned from the other side, a pleasant young lady
in khakis walked down to shore and called them in. She politely
explained how the screen works and how they test the swimming
water daily to ensure its safety, and how the outside water
could be contaminated and unsafe. Monique and David apologized
and promised to stay on the safe side of the screen.
Less than one hour later, a grumpy old man also skirted the
safety screen and started swimming laps, back and forth, along
the opposite side. Again, one of the conservation workers - and
several other people in the water and on the shore - tried to
get his attention to warn him of the hazard and ask him to
return to the chlorinated side of the lake.
Nothing seemed to catch his attention until my brother-
in-law Chris swam out to the barrier and flagged him down. Even
though Chris kindly explained the rules of the park and the
potential health hazard, the old man rudely told him to mind his
own business and continued his swim for another half an hour.
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Click the picture of the man with the funny face
to see the sand castle that Uncle Chris and the kids
made!
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The scene of the crime...
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Thankfully, neither Monique nor David suffered any ill
effects from swimming in the untreated water. I'm not sure if
our grumpy acquaintance escaped unscathed. However, I do know
that his pride set him up for a potentially big fall. It was
easy for me to recognize, since pride is probably my biggest
stumbling block as well.
Pride makes me always have to be "right". Pride keeps me from
acknowledging my faults and asking for forgiveness. Pride keeps
me from seeking advice from others who are probably more wise.
Pride puts my selfish ideas and desires ahead of God and His
direction. Pride puts me on the dangerous side of the lake.
What side of the lake are you swimming in?
Ask yourself...
- What benefits does my pride keep me from?
- What perils does my pride expose me to?
- Is the water that much better on the contaminated side
of the lake?
Keep running for your prize,
Larry Hehn
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