Quieted Ambitions

Friday, November 30

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the words of Psalm 131:

1 My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have calmed myself and quieted my ambitions. I am like a weaned child with its mother.

We live in a culture where we are constantly encouraged to aspire to more -- bigger dreams, bigger goals, bigger everything.

Have you ever noticed that small children have to be taught to think this way? Small children don't concern themselves with matters too great for them. They just have fun and enjoy life. Only as they go through our American educational institutions are they prodded and jarred into making big goals for themselves. "What are you going to be when you grow up? What great thing are you going to do with your life?"

Have you ever noticed the way elderly people no longer concern themselves with matters too great for them? Ever heard your grandma say, "Man, I have so many really cool things I want to accomplish this year!" Never. My grandmother gets up in the morning and embraces the day like a small child. She doesn't concern herself with great matters or things too wonderful for her. She took time to talk to everyone that showed up at Thanksgiving; just to sit and talk with people and genuinely listen to them. To really listen. Me? I was too busy. My mind was swirling with all the stuff I had to get done. I don't think I really listened to one person all week long.

I would love to know how to discipine myself to calm myself and quiet my ambitions, to be like a small child again, to be like an elderly person. What would that look like at 40 years of age? What would that look like for you?