Humility is an Acquired Taste.
Hey everyone!
Welcome back to today’s episode of Sir Malcolm and the Missing Prince. We have fast-forwarded through Hugh’s young, conceited days of playing in the castle to his more responsible days of taking care of Dame Martha, seeing what needs to be done and doing it. With renewed purpose Hugh now has a humble heart and eyes to see life’s blessings.
Just before today’s audio clip is a scene that makes me smile. Hugh is helping Dame Martha prepare for the market, where she will sell scented pillows and candied fruits. As the curtain unfolds, we find Hugh with a servant’s heart, filled with joy. His words are infused with humor and lightness of heart.
Things could have gone wrong for the boy, yet through his simple prayer, “Lord, help me,” he begins to see the stepping stones that lead to success. What are these stones?
A wise man will hear and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels. ~Proverbs 1:5
As a young person seeking wisdom, it fills my heart with joy to see such straightforward advice. To pursue wisdom we must hear, increase learning, and listen to wise counsel—the stepping stones that lead to success. Each is built on the foundation of humility.
Let’s take a look at the first stone—to hear.
The word “hear” or “shema” is one of my favorite Hebrew words. My first understanding of the word came from an influential teacher at The Masters Guild, Professor Colin Smith. He taught us that shema means to hear and obey—or rather, to hear is to obey. It carries the idea of active obedience. Essentially, if God tells us something, it is our responsibility to shema—hear and obey.
Last week Dame Martha challenged Hugh to see what needed to be done and do it—the stepping stone of listening to wise counsel. If he had heard her and done nothing, he would have missed the opportunity to demonstrate active obedience. Conversely, if he had heard and obeyed her wise counsel (shema), then he would have increased in learning.
God brings these stepping stones at just the right time. When faced with tough choices, do we humble ourselves, take a leap of faith, and seek godly counsel from the LORD and trusted mentors? When we seek after the LORD with humility, then are we truly growing in the fear of the LORD.
What I love about this audio clip is that now Hugh is faced with a young girl who represents, in a way, his old life. If not for his difficult lessons in the school of humility, he would have been just like her—content to call others ignorant when his heart was the most ignorant of all.
Hugh’s character is called into question as he faces old temptations. Upon questioning the duchess and receiving her condescending response: “You are ignorant of the ways of royalty,” will surging emotions cause him to turn his nose in disgust as in days past? Thankfully the words of his wise father are heard in his response:
He who would be first will be last, and the last shall be first.
~Mark 9:35
While the lady doesn’t fully understand, she respects Hugh enough to listen to his words. But her patience wears thin as she is made to wait like a common peasant—she is royalty after all! With a smile, Hugh says, “Humility is an acquired taste.”
Whether she will shema or not is up to her, although I doubt a single chance encounter will change her heart. She and Hugh are to meet again in next week’s audio clip, where she will present to Hugh an offer—one that will be hard to resist.
Join us next week to find out what happens!
Looking forward,
Molly
Writer/editor and long-time enthusiast of Sir Malcolm and the Missing Prince
P.S. Here are some Lamplighter favorites on humility and shema:
