Pride

Pride. Such a simple word capable of great destruction.

Pride doesn’t necessarily start off looking like a bad thing, though. People can “be proud of” someone and proud of their accomplishments. If it stops there – simply an impressed celebratory reaction to an element of life – no big deal. But pride rarely stops there.

Look at sports fanatics and political diehards for example. The fanatic and the diehard started out as people who were most likely proud of some aspect of the team or political leanings they support. However repeated exposure to the object or idea of their pride increases their intensity.

We may not all be fanatics or diehards with our pride, but we are all affected when we elevate any thought in our hearts and mind. Eventually, our spirits are exposed to the corrosive side-effect of pride.

Pride is a spirit fueled by the idea that we are greater than what we are. We come to believe our greatness is greater than those who disagree with us and maybe even those who do agree with us.

We are created in the likeness of greatness, but we were not created to be greater than our Creator or our co-creation. When we are able to accept our greatness with a humbleness of spirit – which is knowledge that all that we are is a gift of grace not an act of our will or product of our effort – only then will we walk clear of the fall pride has prepared for us.