Who Are The "Small People"?

Just as the oil spill is being counted in days, I am also counting the days since cardiac surgery.  I am now in Day 30 of recovery and ready for life to get back to normal!

Thinking of the oil spill, did you hear about the Chairman of BP referring to those who have suffered from its effects as "small people"?  Personally, I doubt he meant to be insulting. 

 Speaking English as his second language, plus coming from another culture, Chairman Svanberg  probably had no idea that in America, to refer to people as "small" implies they have no value or significance.  Words mean different things in different cultures.

When I was dating Jim in Nairobi, Kenya, in the Sixties, he used a word that shocked me.  I was raised to consider the word "bloody" as totally unacceptable. It was a swear word, vulgar, and never used even  in my non-Christian family. (I know, it seems mild compared to language today.) But, here was my Christian boyfriend (now husband) laughing as he swore and thinking he was being very clever using this common British word.

What Jim didn't realize was that it wasn't acceptable and made me question his character.  After some explanation, we both chalked it up to a cross-cultural misunderstanding.

As a Christian, I was struck by what the Chairman of BP said, and how Scripture says we are to view ourselves: 

• Whatever was mangled in the cross-cultural understanding of "small people," aren't we called to view ourselves in those terms?  Consider just three references in Scripture:
• Jesus "made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant... he humbled himself "Phil.2:7-8.  He did not see himself as entitled to being treated as someone special--even though he was!
• "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought" Rom.12:3. Maintaining an accurate view of ourselves comes from the balance of knowing our heart's inner junk, and the marvellous grace and cleansing of God.
• "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time"1 Pet.5:5-6.  Recognizing that pride is hated by God frees us to humble ourselves and be honest with Him. He, in turn, picks us up, blesses us, and flows through our lives.  Pride blocks His power because we figure we can do whatever without Him--but humility acknowledges, "Without you, Lord, I can do nothing."  Do you want the the power of the Holy Spirit in your life?  Then consider yourself one of the "small people".

Want to share your thoughts on being "small people"?????  I'd love to hear from you.