Skip to main content

I'm a Worm!

 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)

          “I’m a Worm!”

          “I’m a piece of filth!”

          These are the sorts of statements we tend to associate with humbleness. I’m nobody, useless, helpless, worthless… In comparison with God, all of those are true. But have you stopped to consider how important worms are to the environment? They dig burrows, which allow air and water into the soil and to the roots of plants. They eat their body weight in waste every day, and their castings (excrement, poop) is among the best fertilizer available. And they provide food for other critters.  The humble worm is more valuable than we tend to give it credit for.

          C.S. Lewis described being humble not as thinking less of ourselves, but of thinking of ourselves less. That’s hard to do when you’re trying to figure out how to take care of yourself better unless you think of yourself as you would think of anyone else you want to take better care of. Who you are taking better care of isn’t the key. Taking better care is.

          There is also the idea taught by flight attendants and emergency responder trainers.  You put on your air mask before you help your kids with theirs.  You don’t rush into a gun battle to save someone’s life. You can’t take care of someone else well if you don’t take care of yourself first. Somehow, I don’t think worms spend a lot of time worrying about their reputations. They’re too busy doing the important things that they do. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad thing to be a worm.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more