Our next book study will explore the power of humility especially for those in leadership positions, like KIDS HOPE USA Directors. While Jesus represents the biblical perspective on humility, a more contemporary example would be the life of Henri Nouwen. Although a learned professor, priest, and widely traveled speaker most of his life, he spent the last several years of his life caring for a severely mentally handicapped individuals at Daybreak Community in Canada. Leaving the notoriety of academia for the mostly thankless task of caring for “the least of these” is a step Nouwen approached with a deeply humble acknowledgement that God was calling him to this ministry. What Nouwen experienced in caring for this person was a deep sense of God’s first love which he calls God’s unconditional love. What he had experienced most of his life is what he calls second love. This is characterized by the love from parents, teachers, spouses, and friends that “often leaves us doubtful, frustrated, angry, and resentful.”
Some months after beginning his care of Bill, he was asked to give a talk. He had always given talks alone and given Bill’s handicaps, he questioned whether including Bill in his talk was wise. Convicted by the truth that two persons are stronger than one, he included Bill in his presentation. Nouwen used as the theme of his talk a question that Bill and all other residents at Daybreak ask daily, “Are you home tonight?” Bill confirmed that question by repeating it several times during Nouwen’s talk. The audience of professionals soon understood that talking about something conceptually is not nearly as powerful as having a live example on stage with him. The audience could see the caring that existed between the two men and the humility with which Nouwen deferred to the real life wisdom of his friend.
As we enter this study and this school year, it would be wise to maintain a servant’s heart of humility as we interact with mentors, students, prayer partners, teachers, and most of all students.