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Pride, I'm convinced, is the worst of all vices. It keeps you from seeing the most obvious good things in the world. It keeps you from turning around in the spiritual life. To be brief about it, it keeps you from Love.

Most average people--who are not especially wicked--know when they've made a mistake, let's say a bad one. What happens next depends on pride. Pride is the opposite of strength; it is insecurity named theologically.

What drives you crazy with some people is, they're apologetic about the smallest offenses, and it really is a fault. And then they miss the heart of the matter. They miss something really big. And if one happens to experience this, you can taste the incomprehensibility of it all. Gnats, camels, the whole bit. And then you are astonished at the pride, again. To be frank, it doesn't mean you're "sensitive," it means you are a Pharisee.

I suppose it happens to all of us at one time or another. And I do need grace to be the sort of man who isn't defensive about things. But Love draws us out of ourselves; it disarms the one who readies for a fight. If only we could have heard the words of peace in time! If only we could speak them!

I only know for sure that Jesus said, "and he who comes to me, I will never drive away." When you are touched by Love, your deepest errors revealed become nothing. It is also written, "Perfect love drives out fear." Fear is pride's close cousin. And unless we are speaking of the fear of God, fear is no one's friend. In the informal "sacred tradition" that is all the pop songs I've heard, it is written, "Fear is the devil's only friend."

I guess I'm encouraging you all to say "I'm sorry" to someone you've hurt today. You never know how far a few words can go.

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