Humus

Humus is the dark organic matter in soil that is formed by the decomposition of dead plants and animals. It is considered the life force of the soil and helps to support both the plants and all of the microorganisms that coexist and contribute to plant health and growth. Humus is the Latin word for “ground” or “earth” and also serves as the root source of the word humble. I think that we can learn a lot about humility by thinking about the humus that served as the original source of inspiration for the word. Humus is the very essence of humility. The humus does not concern itself with how many plants are growing in it, how tall they are, how productive they are, how beautiful and lovely they are. If a plant is alive, the humus helps it grow. If the plant has died, it helps to break it down so that a new plant can grow in its place. The humus does not play favorites between plant and animal life, between the living and the dead. It is only concerned with creating a balanced environment of growth and regrowth. True humility does not come from the falsely modest demurrals that our grass isn't any greener than anyone else's, or that our trees aren't particularly more fruitful or more elegantly trimmed than anyone else's. True humility is about making sure that our soil is the very best for growing that we can make it. That means letting leaves, branches, even whole trees fall when it is their time to fall, and not trying to selfishly lock away the remains as some kind of withered husks of the trees we once loved, but rather courageously allowing the grieving process to decompose our beloved plants back into soil so that new plants may grow. It is not easy to have the humility to allow our pain and suffering and heartache to enrich and fertilize our soil and prepare the way for new attempts, new strategies, new faith-filled efforts, but it is only through the repeated process of growing and dying and decomposing and growing again that we build up the rich and fertile humus that is so vital for good soil. The more humus we have, or in other words, the more humility that we have, the more we will be able to grow and learn from and improve upon our earlier efforts.