WHY is it that when a person climbs up another rung on the ladder of success, his head swells a bit more. More often than not, by the time he reaches the top, he becomes an irritating snob and arrogant to the point of being an obnoxious cad.
This sad phenomenon happens to the best of us. It has happened to people I used to like. I am one of the lucky few, I guess. I haven't been "booted" to the top like some of the snobbish few.
At the risk of being called a sour grape, I would like to point to the fact that human beings generally cannot handle success and fame. Or rather, very few of us can handle ably all the trappings that come from sudden fame and fortune.
Notice how many famous movie stars and tycoons came to a sad and tragic end. If you are a reader of newspapers, gossip magazines and TV viewer, you would realise that seemingly very sane famous people have taken to drugs, reckless living, meaningless sexual affairs and driven to suicide by the very world they had earlier craved.
If you can recall, the greatest among us always stoop to serve. For greatness, unsought for, unclaimed and unwanted by those who are enlightened, always comes when we do not ring its doorbell.
The Catholic Pope washes the feets of ordinary people every year as a ritualistic practice and reminder to the masses that humility is a virtue cherished by the Almighty. Even as we are elevated, perhaps without our consent, to the pinnacle of success, we must be mindful of the pitfalls that threaten our simplicity and humility henceforth as we ascend the altar man calls greatness.
Greatness in the spiritual realm is not defined as being haughty, proud and arrogant. It is the very anthesis of it. It is being genuinely humble, kind, compassionate and generous.
For is it not greatness when the lowliest among us do not feel threatened by the so-called greatness of another? We walk among kings and leaders and yet feel no different even as we follow in the footsteps of people who come from the wrong side of society.
The similarity of all people from all walks of life is the true picture of our kind. We realise that success and failure are two sides of the same coin. We recognise the illusion of greatness and lowliness, for in reality none is higher or lower than another.
Therefore, humility should increase proportionally to each measured elevated status achieved by any of us. It is in humility that we soar above all that is ordinary. The spiritual side of us does not recognise the self-importance that often is mistaken for greatness.
There is no greatness without simplicity and humility. This is the truth and the joy that open the gates of heaven to all who are deemed worthy of walking on its grounds.
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