The Virtue of Humility

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The Virtue of Humility

By Trank

Shadow Walker of the Albatross Merchant Empire

In many years of service to others and in personal growth I have come to know one virtue quite well. The virtue of humility. I am admittedly not a great fan of the virtues as a governing system. I believe that every individual must exercise some personal growth in learning to do what is right for the moment. It is also common knowledge that our shard is so corrupt with men who behave like monsters, murderers and lovers of chaos, that it will never rejoin the original Sosaria. My divisions on this issue run deep, however, so I will save my thoughts on that for another time. But, despite my current misgivings about the system of virtues becoming the beacon for us all to once again see light, humility has enough merits on its own to make me cling to the system.

Humility is the one virtue that does not stem from another or produce another. It stands alone as a cornerstone to the entire system. In actuality it is a cornerstone to any person's character and will play the largest part in his ability to grow and adapt. Every individual must be able to gain understanding of their limitations to insure they can survive failure. Every individual must understand his limitations so they do not place more on themselves then they can bear. Humility is valuable to the noble and the rogue, the adventurer and the merchant, the warrior and the mage, the ranger and the dungeon crawler. The greater spirituality starts with understanding yourself and your limitations.

There is a reason the Shepherd's crook is the symbol of humility. The shepherd holds a thankless job. None thank him for the wool he provides to warm them. The animals have no understanding of the safety and protection he provides. The crook is designed with a staff end to be used as a steering rod of correction. The hook end to save a stray animal from peril. Humility will be your shepherd. You never will stop to thank it, or even grasp that it is working in your decisions. However, if you embrace it in your way of thinking, it will direct you, correct you, and save you from yourself. You cannot gain true compassion for others until you master the art of saving yourself. Otherwise your attempts to help others will be driven by your need to approve your worth by whom you help and not the joy of helping. Cut yourself some slack. You are not perfect yet.

The teaching is simply put; the greatest insight is to see your own limitations. Understand that you are not better nor worse then any other. Your area of talent and skill will very from others, but it does not make you less valuable. I became a warrior at an old age. I was a mere tailor who chased a dream of adventure. I have never been as fast, as skilled, or as adept as my fellow warriors. But they still chose me to lead them. Why? Was it because I was some great leader? No. Was it due to a charisma or charm I possessed? No. It was mostly due to the fact that I didn't want it. I know this sounds weird. I was chosen to lead because I did not desire it. Part of me did, but in my heart I knew the task was too great. A leader who wants to take over is usually driven by lust for power, fortune or fame. The greatest leaders have it thrust upon them, for they are too humble to pick it up themselves. Let your response to necessity turn you into a hero. Let others who see the character within you choose you. Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a great fall. The true path to honor is being humble enough to accept it, but not so greedy as to take it.

I once heard it said that many people should not seek to teach, for teachers receive a greater condemnation. The humble spirit must know even as it teaches others, that it does not know all, have all the answers. I'm not saying that you should not have confidence in what you have learned, but when you learn something greater you must be able to grow and change. You don't know it all. You never will. In every situation and encounter and individual is the chance to learn something, even if the lesson is what not to do. I feel that true honesty starts at being able to admit we don't know.

Some in their search to do good try to let all others place their burdens on them and carry the weight for all. I warn all that will travel the path of light to be wary. When people learn that you will do for them, they grow to expect it. You cannot do for yourself if you are a slave to others. Empower them to be sufficient enough to handle their own problems and you both will grow happy. Sacrifice that is not tempered with humility will lead to over-taxation and failure.

When humility gives us this understanding and self-awareness it allows us to not be swallowed by self-righteousness. You cannot uphold what you believe in until you know why others war against it. You cannot fight an enemy you do not understand. If you understand your enemy, then they are easier to defeat, or even better, easier to bring to the light. The valor it takes to stand up for your belief is a noble quality, but is a sigh of vainglory and ignorance if given blindly.

So untrue is the statement justice is blind. Without humility we would focus more on the repaying then the repairing. Humility affords us much empathy. Does the victim want vengeance and retribution or peace and restoration? The search for justice cannot be selfish, but seek what is the greater good for all parties. Humility gives us this ability for we are called to remember that we were once transgressors in one way or another. Everyone has missed the mark.

I make no apologies for the weight or importance I give this virtue. If it is not the first lesson learned, then all other Virtues will be much harder to master. The lesson of humility is very lacking in our world. Pride in skill and ability fall short when we have lost focus that we are limited beings, and no matter what height we achieve, or still as limited in our humanity as the newborns of our land. Truly virtuous is the one who does not see themselves as greater than they ought, nor less then what they are.