Ray of Sonlight: February 26: TRUE MEEKNESS

According to Bill Farmer's newspaper column, J. Upton Dickson was a fun-loving fellow who said he was writing a book entitled Cower Power. He also founded a group of submissive people. It was called DOORMATS. That stands for "Dependent Organization of Really Meek And Timid Souls—if there are no objections." Their motto was: "The meek shall inherit the earth—if that's okay with everybody." Their symbol was the yellow traffic light.

Mr. Dickson sounds like he'd be a lot of fun, doesn't he? What is disturbing about all of this, though, is that many people assume that the ridiculous ideas behind DOORMATS and Cower Power represent the quality of meekness set forth in Matthew 5:5. Many, even in the church, think that to be meek is to be weak. But the opposite is true.

What the Bible is talking about is a powerful virtue. The slogan "strong enough to be gentle" comes close to defining it. True meekness is best seen in Christ. He was submissive, never resisting or disputing the will of God. His absolute trust in the Father enabled Him to show compassion, courage, and self-sacrifice even in the most hostile situation. —Daily Bread.

What is the best definition of meekness? In following the Greek use of the word, we would visualize an animal which has been well-trained. Without training, the animal is a source of unbridled energy, brutality, and destruction. With training, the animal has just as much strength. However, now the strength is under control. In short, this is what meekness is—not weakness, as we so often think. My favorite pictorial illustration of meekness is of a small girl leading an enormous horse, using only a bridle.

The palm tree is another good example of meekness. It has strength to endure the force of a hurricane. But it is flexible to the point it is not broken by the same wind. Its roots grip firmly, as they have spread to grasp the quickly dissipating water supply. A palm is anything but weak. Nonetheless, it is a good example of being meek.