Daily Spiritual Thought or Quote of the Day - 2/20/2012

Sirach 2:4-5

"Accept whatever befalls you, in a crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation."

None of us enjoy being humiliated. In fact the primary reason people dread public speaking is due to fear of humiliation. However, humiliation is necessary in our lives to help us achieve a humble heart. Part of the process of advancing to Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy is learning to accept bad situations with humility and grace. Our CPO creed contains this paragraph:

So this is why you were caused to experience these things. You were subjected to humiliations to prove to you that humility is a good, a great, a necessary change which cannot mar you—which in fact, strengthens you, and in your future as a CHIEF PETTY OFFICER, you will be caused to suffer indignities, to experience humiliations far beyond those imposed upon you today. Bear them with the dignity, and with the same good grace, which you bore these today.

Accept those events in life that humble you as they will help avoid the personal failing of excessive pride.