Image by John Hain from Pixabay
I finished 2024 with a column about Hope. My topic for this column, January 2025, is humility, the foundation stone of Hope. For the last month I’ve been reflecting on the thoughts of Canadian First Nations author, Richard Wagamese in his book, “One Drum: Stories and Ceremonies for a Planet.” Richard begins by saying that his First Nations’ Spirituality is based on Humility.
Our Christian Christmas celebration has just passed. The stories of Jesus’ life tell us he was born in a stable, became an itinerant preacher and healer, walked the hills of Gallilee and was crucified as a traitor. Not until we reach the stories of his resurrection do we read of him as king. Even then, he was a humble servant king, calling us to humility and servanthood. Yes, Christianity is also based in humility. We have a commonality, two different approaches to faith, Christian and First Nations, coming from the same foundation of humility.
Wagamese talks about humility, teaching his people to “walk gently upon the earth.”
Gradually, our entire world is discovering that if we don’t “walk gently upon the earth,” there will be no earth.
Wagamese also teaches “do no harm to anyone” as an aspect of humility. As Christians, we aspire to follow the Ten Commandments and Jesus’ call for us to love and accept all people, which definitely requires humility. Every day, our world is experiencing what happens when we don’t love all people – war, oppression, violence, poverty, hunger, homelessness. Loving our neighbour, all our neighbours as Jesus taught is difficult, especially when our neighbours differ in appearance, language and faith. We need to let go of our belief in our own superiority, to become humble, in order to value others, ALL others as God’s precious children. Once again, Christian faith has a commonality with First Nations Spirituality.
As I read and reflect on Richard Wagamese’s thoughts, I am humbled. I ask the question, “How can we, as Christians, consider our ways, ourselves so much better than our First Nation’s people? We believe that God loves variety so much that God has created a world where everything, everyone, every animal is unique and precious. Reading “One Drum” has brought me back to humility. I believe we are all created in God’s image, male and female. I believe we are all God’s precious children.
As we begin 2025, we have work to do. Being humble is difficult for human beings. We can do it. Humility teaches us that there is a story behind each person we meet, those who live on the street and those who live in the huge fancy homes totally festooned in Christmas lights. All people have value. Humility can teach us to respect others as individuals and as nations.
During the Covid pandemic we learned the benefits of humility. Scientists the world over worked together to develop vaccines. Enough of us were vaccinated so that now Covid is considered as dangerous as the flu, to be accepted and treated. During Covid enough of the world changed it’s ways that for a short time, pollution of our air was reduced. Our earth immediately began to heal itself.
In 2025, we can learn humility. We can walk softly on our beautiful earth and do no harm to anyone. We can love our neighbour, all of our neighbours. I bring the hope of December into January. Nothing is impossible with God, even peace on earth. May it be so.