Meekness or Weakness?

I recently watched The Tale of Despereaux with my family. Not only did the younger boys enjoy it but my teenagers were impressed with the complexity and morality of the story. While one of the strongest themes in the movie is that of forgiveness, a no-less obvious one is that of not judging others. It is not so much what you are (man, mouse, or rat) but who you are that matters.

Such a movie is a healthy reminder for us since we as a people are quite adept at judging. We look at the clothes someone wears or perhaps even the mannerisms they express and form opinions on the person's character. Yet tragically we are often mistaken in our assessments. The well-groomed, muscular man-of-the-world who exudes self-confidence may actually be cowardly and petty. The girl-next-door with that sweet, innocent smile may be as vicious as piranha when your back is turned. Appearances, as they say, are deceiving.

One of the most misunderstood mannerisms, for example, is meekness, a word which is not synonymous with weakness, although many people seem to believe it is. That mild-mannered Clark Kent we work with may actually be a Superman when put to the test, but will we ever take the time to find out? We miss out on so much of the depth in others by only looking on the surface.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.--Matt. 5:5

The meek man is not a human mouse afflicted with a sense of his own inferiority. Rather he may be in his moral life as bold as a lion and as strong as Samson; but he has stopped being fooled about himself. He has accepted God's estimate of his own life. He knows he is as weak and helpless as God has declared him to be, but paradoxically, he knows at the same time that he is in the sight of God of more importance than angels. In himself, nothing; in God, everything. That is his motto. He knows well that the world will never see him as God sees him and he has stopped caring. He rests perfectly content to allow God to place His own values. He will be patient to wait for the day when everything will get its own price tag and real worth will come into its own. Then the righteous shall shine forth in the Kingdom of their Father. He is willing to wait for that day.

--from The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer

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