Pride Goeth Before a fall, detail
Copyright Wallace Tripp
from A Great Big Ugly Man Came Up and Tied His Horse to Me
I suppose everyone has some aspects of the practice of faith that they do better than others. For me, it’s the praise part that doesn’t come naturally. I feel at ease with prayer and study; I try to be a good person in the world and ask for forgiveness when I fail; I can mostly remember to say thank-you to God for the many blessings in my life. But praise does not rise unbidden to my heart, mind, or lips as often as I feel it should. Perhaps it’s all those mid-west Lutherans in my heritage warning me of the dangers of pride–I’ve become a bit too careful about how lavishly I spread my enthusiasm.
God, of course, is the one person you can praise unreservedly, without ulterior motives, and without fear of excess–such freedom! Praising God feels great–like being part of the roar of a crowd, everyone on their feet, the festal shout, a mighty Affirmation–and given that, I don’t know why His praise is not continually in my mouth. It’s a weakness. Hymns are a huge help to me. Also the psalms. And I know that I need to get myself to church on Sunday, so I can join with angels and archangels and the whole company of heaven.
Sigh. There’s always something to work on, isn’t there? Keeps us humble.
