Categories: uncategorized
Date: 27 February 2008 23:10:08
All is vanity.
Just think for one moment about the things you did today - from the minor acts to the major decisions (such as they were).
Bet you that vanity had a role in many of them. Sorry to depress you. They certainly did for me, and whilst I'm happy to bet that my inner thought process is less sanctified than yours is, I'd also bet that you're not immune to the same need to have others think you charming/intelligent/witty/professional/attractive.
And I guess we're vain because we don't feel that good about ourselves and we need the affirmation that others bring. But we want that affirmation about surface level things. The result? - we act in a way that will appeal to others on a surface level.
But doing that doesn't actually win long-term respect or a good name. So by trying to get ourselves well thought of, we do precisely the things that will make us look like a prat. At least I do. And it may win quick friends or a good laugh, but that crumbles very quickly.
I know that this is all very obvious stuff, but I need to hear it played loud in my head on a daily basis. Because I do very silly things from moment to moment due to vanity. So I'm sure that these wafflings are more or less unreadable, but it's me speaking to myself.
The remedy is simple and impossible - being humble, considering others better than yourself, being secure in God's love so you don't need man's fleeting praise. All wisdom writers have acknowledged this. I'd just love to start getting it right moment by moment.
(p.s. This isn't self flaggelation or self-loathing, it's simply frustration!)
p.s. 2 Thanks to all and sundry for their kind comments on the entry below. And do check out the comments section for Dith's reworking of He Who Would Valiant Be.