I wrote:

According to the saints humble people don't know they're humble. They don't think about it. They are preoccupied with Christ. (Heard about the pastor who was so humble they gave him a badge to celebrate his virtue? But he made the mistake of wearing it, so they had to take it back :-)

A netfriend responded:

that's for sure RC...

yeah, i was going to quote t bone burnett, "it's a funny thing about humility as soon as you know you're being humble, you're no longer humble," from his song "trap door" [full lyrics at end of post].

i probably should have unpacked a bit more of my question. i was thinking more in terms of the 4 stages of awareness (when it comes to values):

1. unaware 2. aware of existence (knowing that something exists) 3. acceptence (knowing that something is meaningful/important) 4. celebration (integration of something as a meaningful/important part of one's life).

it was in this context that i was posing my question. it seems to me that humility is a virtue or value which often gets short shrift when it comes to an explanation of the features, benefits, worth, value, and cost of living life humbly.

considering that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble -- this is certainly an area of great importance in our footsteps following the Master.

brother, remember that Christ longs to gather you under his wings too. <--- just sensed a leading to type that.

~~~

it's a funny thing about humility as soon as you know you're being humble, you're no longer humble

it's a funny thing about life you've got to give up your life to be alive

you've got to suffer to know compassion you can't want nothing if you want satisfaction

tonight the world looks like a different place tonight the moon is turning in it's place tonight we find ourselves alone at last watch out for the trap door, watch out for the trap door

it's a funny thing about love the harder you try to be loved, the less lovable you are it's a funny thing about pride, when you're being proud you should be ashamed

you find only pain if you seek after pleasure you work like a slave if you seek after leisure

tonight the world looks like a different place tonight the moon is shining on your face tonight we find ourselves alone at last watch out for the trap door, watch out for the trap door +++++++++++++++++