I was standing at the kitchen sink doing the dishes when suddenly I noticed an enormous red-tailed hawk perched, silent and still, on a branch of the Big-leaf Maple just out the kitchen window.
Whoa! That’s the coolest thing ever! Talk about power and strength!
As I stood there gazing up at the hawk, a little hummingbird flitted up past the hawk, flitted over this way among the branches, flitted that way, then zipped away out of sight. The little hummingbird didn’t seem to be the least bit concerned about the presence of the hawk. It obviously was aware that the hawk was there … how could it not know the hawk was there? The hawk was enormous!
“How cool would it be to get a photo of the hawk for the blog,” I thought.
I stepped away from the kitchen window to get my phone and was back in a second. The hawk, clearly aware of my presence, had obviously been watching me through my kitchen window from way up there on its perch. It did not appreciate the sudden attention I was directing its way.
The hawk did not want its photo taken. It did not want its photo featured on the blog. It did not want attention … at all.
In a single motion it spread its great wings … and was gone.
Bummer! I guess I should have known better. If I would have just stayed still I could have kept watching it for a bit longer.
The enormous red-tailed hawk was power … and strength. It was “larger-than-life” (so to speak), striking awe and admiration in me!
But for all that, the red-tailed hawk didn’t want attention.
It suddenly occurred to me that the animals in my forest aren’t full of pride the way people are. The red-tailed hawk has every reason to be proud! It is larger than just about every other bird in the forest (except perhaps the Barred Owl). It is stronger and more powerful than just about every other bird in the forest. It can fly higher than just about every other bird in the forest. It’s call carries farther than just about every other bird in the forest.
Yet, for all that … it is not full of pride. On the contrary, it does not want attention.
It does not want any attention directed its way … because that would interfere with what God made it to do (which is hunt small prey).
Pride seeks attention.
Pride interferes with what God has called us to do – which is to love each other, encourage each other, and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Even if we have strength and power – like the red-tailed hawk – the point is not to have the attention directed towards us. That would interfere and distract from what God has called us to do – loving each other, encouraging each other, and building each other up.
Even if we are “larger” – like the red-tailed hawk. Perhaps a “larger” investment portfolio, a “larger” sphere of influence, a “larger” platform, etc. … Even then, the point is not to have the attention focused on us. That would interfere and distract from what God has called us to do – loving each other, encouraging each other, and building each other up.
Even if we can “fly higher” – like the red-tailed hawk. Perhaps “flying higher” might mean climbing the corporate ladder to impressive heights. Even then, the point is not to have the attention focused on us. That would interfere with what God has called us to do – which is loving each other, encouraging each other, and building each other up.
Even if “our call carries farther” – like the red-tailed hawk. Even then, the point is not to have the attention focused on us. That would interfere with what God has called us to do – which is loving each other, encouraging each other, and building each other up.
The opposite of pride is not anonymity and obscurity. If we are trying to avoid being prideful, this does not mean seeking a life of anonymity and obscurity. The red-tailed hawk is anything but obscure. The red-tailed hawk is power … sitting quietly on a Big-leaf Maple branch.
The red-tailed hawk is strength … sitting still and silent in its place … as the little hummingbird flits and hovers nearby. No need to put on a “show of greatness” to prove that it is “better.” The hawk and the hummingbird exist together in peace and harmony … each in its own place.
The red-tailed hawk is power … as it circles high overhead! It is being what God has made it to be. It is not intentionally seeking out attention … but attention can’t help but be directed its way as it brings glory to its Maker.
The red-tailed hawk is strength … as its call echoes across the forest and valley! It is being what God has made it to be. It is not intentionally seeking out attention … but attention can’t help but be directed its way as it brings glory to its Maker.
When it comes to our own life, humility/meekness is power … sitting quietly in the place God has put us in life.
Humility/meekness is strength … still and silent, with no need to put on a “show of greatness.”
Humility/meekness is the ability to exist together in peace and harmony with those around us … as we each are in the place God has put us.
Humility/meekness is power and strength which doesn’t intentionally seek out attention … but attention can’t help but be directed its way as it brings glory to our Maker.
Love is not proud.
But rather, love is power and strength … under control. Love is humility/meekness.
