My greatest enemy

I finished Richard Foster's book 'Learning Humility.' As with most books, movies, and so on I don't know that I'm qualified to say how good or bad it was... but I liked it. I will miss spending time with it each day. 

I feel like I have grown from reading this book, but more than that, it helped me realize how much MORE I need to grow. So, for that I am thankful.

One other thing, it sparked a real interest in Native American history for me. I now have a list of books I'd like to get on the subject. Apparently I have Apache in my lineage. Suddenly I'm curious about it.

I suppose a lot of the book can be put into perspective for me from the last chapter. Foster quotes this Lakota prayer that has been translated into English by Chief Yellow Lark:

The Great Spirit Prayer

Oh, Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the wind, whose

breath gives life to all the world.

Here me; I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the

red and purple sunset.

Make my hands respect the things you have made and my

ears sharp to hear your voice.

Make me wise so that I may understand the things you have

taught my people.

Help me to remain calm and strong in the face of all that

comes towards me.

Let me learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf

and rock.

Help me seek pure thoughts and act with the intention of

helping others.

Help me find compassion without empathy

overwhelming me.

I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy, Myself.

Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and

straight eyes.

So when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come

to you without shame.

 And there it is. That one line: "I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy, Myself." 

Yeah... I have seen the enemy, and it is me. I'd like to learn to love my enemy(ies).

So, here we go. I quite like the last few books I've read, and how they've impacted me. Here's to continuing on this path...