Self Worth

Humility is just a correct understanding of your own self worth.

Nearly a century ago, my Sunday school teacher was Mary Hoffeinz, a dear woman teaching the college class across the street from a United Methodist college where her husband was my New Testament professor. I remember Mary most clearly for two truisms. She didn't like singing the chorus of the hymn "Are Ye Able?" After verses like this:

“Are ye able,” said the Master,
“To be crucified with Me?”
“Yea,” the sturdy dreamers answered,
“To the death we follow Thee.”

we were to sing this:

Lord, we are able. Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us, like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Mary was quite sure this was pure braggadociousness, that we were no more able than the disciples. Normally she stood in mute protest during the whole song. When that seemed inappropriate under rare circumstances, it became the prayer, "Lord, make us able!"

I also recall her mantra that too many people are continually being born again and never grow up.

Looking back from the perspective of Recovery, I interpret her to say something consistent with, "Live so you don't have to keep doing inventories, Fifth steps, and amends. In other words, work steps Ten, Eleven and Twelve daily, and it's the equivalent of not being born again and again."