Deep Humility = More Joy
There is More Joy to be found when we humbly, yet actively serve the sea and the soil with a progressive spirituality.
This is the second of eight articles on Living Joyfully while the Environment Collapses written for those who seek to integrate environmentalism and spirituality.
The Second of Six Pillars of Joy is Humility
The word humility actually comes from the Latin word for earth or soil, humus. Humility literally brings us back down to the earth, to our Source.
Environmental activism is hard, soul-sucking work. It can be a real challenge to find joy in the struggle to regenerate our planet.
Yet, we know as environmentalists who are integrating our activism with a deep spirituality, that it is important to remain connected to the earth — to the sea and soil.
That connection rekindles our joy.
When I am exhausted, I take a walk in the woods. There it is that I am humbled by her majesty, re-inspired to do my work, and re-energized to joyfull move on.
From that deep spiritual connection, from Mother Earth herself, we are given the energy to love.
As we are humbled we become aware of how graced we are. An awareness that we have been chosen.
Graced by Mother Earth — and Humbled for it — we Joyfully love her in return.
While addressing the subject of humility, William Martin, in his book The Activist’s Tao Te Ching, translates Chapter 28 like this:
EMBRACE EVERYTHING
Letters, speeches, and demonstrations might be useful tools, but they must have their roots within the quiet of our souls.
When activism unites with the quiet place inside us, a circuit is completed. the energy of the Tao begins to flow. Nothing can oppose it because it embraces everything. In our work we must always seek to unite all that seems divided.
It is from a position of Deep Humility that our useful tools and quiet souls joyfully find each other…and wed wisely together.
Lao Tzu is speaking of integrating all that seems to divide us — our spirituality with our environmentalism, for example — uniting always that which often seems divided.
Our activism, when integrated with a deep spirituality, will bring us a satisfying Joy. Without a deep reverence for all of life, our activism will wither before the work is done.
Our deep spirituality, when integrated with a deep activism, will also bring us heartfelt Joy. Without intentionally living in communion with all of creation, our spirituality is dissociated from its roots. There is no sustainable purpose to our activism without a deep spirituality.
We can be Joyful environmentalists and Joyful spiritual seekers when we stand humbly, in awe and wonder, at the majestic mystery that is Mother Earth.
There is More Joy to be found when we humbly, yet actively serve the sea and the soil with a progressive spirituality.
Four thoughts to ponder.
- Wisdom begins in wonder. So said Socrates. The more we wonder, the humbler and wiser we become. And wisdom begets joy.
- My father, like many fathers, used to say: The more you know, the more you know you don’t know. What a joyous relief! There is always more to learn than I know.
- There is an old Tibetan saying that wisdom is like rainwater — both gather in the low places. One of life’s biggest challenges is to be an expert, while not being an elitist.
- A low lying valley collects its own rain, and that of its neighbors as well. Again, humility brings us to a natural wisdom, and in that we experience joy.
In 2020, I wrote the book LOVING MOTHER EARTH: Integrating Environmentalism and Spirituality. You can find commentaries about the big ideas in this little book at www.loving-mother-earth.com, and here on Medium. You can purchase my book on Amazon, and know that if you do, $5.00 from every purchase is donated to The Sierra Club.
Thank you for Loving Mother Earth. Follow me and I will follow you if, in truth, you are passionate about integrating environmentalism with spirituality. After all, we are in this together.
