Humility
Our greatness isn't being put in the spotlight,
but being more concerned about the inner light.
Grace vs. Disgrace
Do you live a life of Grace, or do you live a life of Disgrace? According to all universal spiritual teachings, the difference between a person lives a life of Grace and a person who lives a life of Disgrace is that the former's character is whole (Grace) whereas the latter has holes in their character (Disgrace).
For example,
Consider the following story regarding this subject matter. Once upon a time, two caucasian friends, Bob and Greg, worked for the same company, a company that built private jets. One day Bob invited Greg to his Church, and it appeared to Greg that Bob was very humble and devotional, but after the Church service, Bob began to gossip about practically everyone in his Church. Greg tolerated Bob's gossip because he didn't want to look at someone else's faults without first looking at his own. Greg also thought of the verse in the Bible where Jesus says, 'He who is free of sin let him be the first to cast a stone." In other words, Greg didn't want to cast a stone of criticism towards Bob because he humbly realized he had his own faults and shortcomings as well.
Indeed, it should also be pointed that as previously mentioned, Bob and Greg worked for a company that built private jets. They also got paid really well for this job, including insurance and benefits as well. The CEO of this company was an African American woman named Jennifer who acquired a prestigious degree from Harvard University in Aerospace Engineering.
One day, when Bob and Greg went to lunch, they engaged in small talk. Bob, as usual, began to gossip. Why? Because he had holes in his character. Unfortunately, Greg couldn't tolerate Bob's gossip any longer. Why? Because Bob's gossip was not only racist and sexist, but it was also very personal as well.
Indeed, Bob said, "Can you believe the CEO of this company is an African American woman? Who'd that nigger have to sleep with to get that position?" Before completely losing his cool, Greg tried to talk some sense into Bob. Greg told Bob, "Actually, Jeniffer is very qualified for her position. She was always a strait A student and was valedictorian both in high school and in college."
"The college she went to was actually Harvard university. She was also considered a specialist in her field of Aerospace Engineering. In fact, the reason Jennifer became an Aerospace Engineer is because she was inspired by three African American women named Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson who, in the 1960's, all worked for The National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA as it's commonly known."
"These three African American women, who were known as mathematical geniuses, served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit during a time that was famously known as 'The Space Race.' In fact, In 2016, Hollywood did a biographical movie about these three African American women. The movie is entitled 'Hidden Figures.'"
"The reason the movie is entitled 'Hidden Figures' is because as the title suggests, these women were hidden from the public during 'The Space Race' era. Why? Because America wanted to perpetuate the lie that only white males are great scientists, mathematicians and inventors."
Indeed, Greg continued to enlighten Bob, "Even if Jennifer or the three African American women who worked for NASA didn't have college degrees, by the power of Almighty God, he can make anyone, including a child, perform wonderful tasks with their mind, words and deeds, with or without a college degree. Hence child prodigies. In other words, it's ultimately the mercy of God, and not ones high education, that qualifies one to perform wonderful tasks."
​
"For example, there was once an Indian boy named Akrit Jaswal who, in the year 2,000, performed a successful surgery at the age of only 7. I'm pretty sure he never went to medical school at that age."
"Similarly, in 1913, a poor and uneducated Indian teen named Srinivasa Ramanujan was invited to attend Trinity College in England to work with a professor named G.H. Hardy. Why? Because he was known as a mathematical prodigy in the fields of number theory, infinite series and continued fractions, including coming up with solutions to mathematical problems then considered unsolvable."
"Srinivasa Ramanujan credited his genius to God for literally revealing answers to difficult mathematical equations in his mind's eye. Although his name for God was different from the Judeo-Christian Bible, he nevertheless gave credit to God and not his Ego for all his achievements. In fact, in 2016, Hollywood also came out with a biographical movie about Srinivasa Ramanujan's life. This inspirational movie is known as 'The Man Who Knew Infinity.'"
Similarly,
consider the following
words of wisdom
regarding this subject matter as well:
After hearing such profound wisdom from Greg, Bob continued to insult Jennifer, the African American female CEO of their company. In other words, Greg would have had more success if he talked to a wall. Bob also wondered, 'Hey Greg, how do you know so much about Jennifer?" Greg answered, "Jennifer's husband. Me and Jennifer's husband, Tyrone, have been friends since Kindergarten." Needless to say, when Bob heard this revelation, his expression said, "Oops." Of course, Bob was fired from his Job as he should have been. The only job Bob could find after being fired was with another company who made private jets. The CEO was a white male this time. Unfortunately, Bob not only got paid half the money he received at his previous company with Jennifer, but he also didn't receive any insurance or benefits either. In other words, when Bob was working for Jennifer, he could afford lavish vacations. On the other hand, now that Bob is working for this new company, he's struggling to pay his bills.
The moral of the story is....
Just as a begging bowl that's whole can hold water, whereas a begging bowl that's full of holes can't hold water, so also a person whose character is whole can keep the rain of their good fortune, whereas a person who has holes in their character can't keep the rain of their good fortune. In other words, according to all universal spiritual teachings, a person whose character is whole thinks before they speak, whereas a person who has holes in their character speaks before they think. If we think before we speak, then we'll taste the rain of our good fortune (Grace), whereas if we speak before we think, then we'll waste the rain of our good fortune (Disgrace).
Therefore,
in the ancient Sanskrit book of wisdom known as
the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.16.43),
it is said:
​
"A person who does not completely control his words and mind by superior intelligence will find that his good fortune flow away just as water flows out of an unbaked clay pot or a begging bowl that's full of holes. What this essentially means is that those who are wise think before they speak (Grace) whereas those who are unwise speak before they think (Disgrace)."
Similarly,
in the Holy Bible (James 3.7-10),
it is said:
“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be."
The conclusion is...
A person who lives a life of Grace speaks words of wisdom, whereas a person who lives a life of Disgrace speaks words of wrath. Because Greg lived a life of Grace, he spoke words of wisdom, whereas because Bob lived a life of Disgrace, he spoke words of wrath.
Therefore, it is said:
