“Do nothing from selfish ambition or empty conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.” –Phillipians 2:3
I can still see myself standing at the island in the church kitchen saying, “And what are you contributing to retreat?” or something equally awful. I was in my 20’s and working full time at an overwhelming teaching job. At church I was trying to prove my worth by heading up a weekend retreat for our adult Sunday school group. I fumed at those around me as I thought about the papers that wouldn’t get graded and all the food that needed to be packed and prepared for others in the weekend ahead.
When I get annoyed at other people for not pitching in and doing their part, it usually means I have decided to complete more than what I can actually accomplish in one human day. In this unhappy state I am not transcending self, but descending into my own selfish pity party.
Both Suzanne Stabile and Emily P Freeman, Christian spiritual directors and authors, emphasize that asking, “What is mine to do?” is a clarifying question. This is an important question because it tells us two things: (1) Not everything that needs or could be done in the world to help others is mine to do; and (2) There are some things in the world that are mine to do.
Maybe one way to look at self transcendence is a balance of self care and awareness that then leads us to humbly care for others. When we are able to act out of our love for God and with humility, we can access the beauty and growth that comes from helping others.
God, we can see your beautiful creation and the amazing diversity of people in the world. We can also see the many problems in the world. In our own strength we can be quickly overwhelmed. Help us to learn how to love others selflessly. AMEN
some comfort and joy 