A Cup of Humility

The Night Train is coming! Steve Holcomb developed an eye condition that rendered him unable to drive a vehicle, he was legally blind. He informed his coaches that he had to retire from bobsledding, but first, they encouraged him to seek out an experimental surgery that could restore his vision. He had the surgery and it was a success. In the 2010 Winter Olympics, Steve Holcombe was the captain and driver of the four-man bobsled, nicknamed the Night Train, winning a gold medal for the USA, their first gold medal in this event in 62 years (1948). The story is told of a University professor who went searching for the meaning of life. After many long journeys over several years, he came to the mountaintop retreat of a holy hermit and asked for enlightenment. The man invited the visitor into his humble tent and began to serve him tea. When he had filled the professor’s cup, he kept on pouring so that soon the tea was spilling all over the table. At first, the professor watched the overflowing tea in silence. But, finally, he blurted out, “STOP! The cup is full! No more will go in!” Where upon the holy hermit stopped pouring the tea and replied, “Like this cup, you are full of your own opinions, preconceptions and misconceptions. How then can I enlighten you unless you are willing to first empty your cup?” We cannot learn when we are so full of ourselves.

[James 4:10] “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” Humility can be a slippery slope – when you decide you have it – you just lost it. Humility is not something to be sought after for its value or reward. Humility comes to those who are not concerned about themselves. F.B. Meyer said it well, “I used to think God’s gifts were on shelves, one above another, and the taller we grow, the easier we can reach them. Now I find that God’s gifts are on shelves, one below another and the lower we stoop, the more we get.” Humility, in large part, is my understanding of how big God is and how small I am. It’s about how none of us deserves the love and blessings He showers on us. Humility literally means to make low. It is to see my weakness and frailty as I lift my head toward the God of heaven. In the gospel of John we read about a blind man who was healed by Jesus. Blind from birth, he received sight. Can you imagine the excitement he must have felt to be able to see for the first time in his life? All the familiar sounds he knew were now accompanied by a visual picture. How beautiful the world must have seemed to this man! But, before he could enjoy it, he was taken before those trying to deny Jesus was from God. This former blind man summed up his experience with Jesus by saying, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see!” (John 9:24-25). How many people in our world today are so materially full, to a point of overflowing, they are spiritually blind? They walk around in darkness and have no idea which way to turn next. They are constantly looking for guidance and direction. As Christians, we must point them in the direction of Christ, the One who gives sight to those who are spiritually blind. “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12). Christ teaches we are also the light of the world because we believe in Him, and tells us to, “...let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). The stories of Steve Holcombe and the professor have inspired many, but Jesus’ life giving light is the best.