There's nothing noble about low self-esteem.
False pride is pretty useless, too.
However, too many South Dakotans, bamboozled by the idea that the road to humility runs through half-truths, have stumbled into this trap too many times.
That latest indication of this tragic misunderstanding is the reaction by some local folks to the generosity of the often maligned T. Denny Sanford.
You know, he’s the guy everyone’s afraid the city might get named after one day.
Month after month, Sanford’s name keeps making local headlines because of the wads of cash he has been depositing in Sioux Falls, around the state and in other places connected with South Dakota’s interests.
$400 million to the former Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System. $70 million to the underground science lab at Homestake mine. $16 million to build Sanford Children’s Hospital. $14 million to help Children’s Home Society. $10 million to state universities.
Why in the world would anyone criticize such benevolence?
There are those of us who are inspired by Sanford’s financial ability to impact organizations and efforts such as the Crazy Horse Memorial that’s rising in the Black Hills.
Just the mere thought of the possibility – remote as it might be – of seeing Crazy Horse completed during my lifetime sends chills up my spine.
The opportunity to educate people worldwide about American Indian history, the chance to help improve race relations in South Dakota, the emergence of another jewel to glisten within the landscape of the Black Hills – all are foreseeable impacts that this massive, stone-carved monument and its companion organization can have.
And Sanford’s recently announced donation of $5 million in matching funds to the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation will help bring the mountain carving’s completion a little closer.
I think that’s great.
But then there are those who grumble about the attention Sanford continually gains with each announcement of another gift.
They grumble about the local billionaire businessman’s choices of how he’s dispersing his wealth. They grumble that he even has the wealth in the first place.
They grumble because some genuinely believe it’s the pious thing to do.
However, underneath the criticism lurks the crippling strains of insecurity – a particularly evil disease that prohibits people from using every ounce of strength available to make the world around them better.
It’s tragic, really.
The road to humility that these folks desire to travel is definitely a noble one. It’s the getting there part that can be tricky.
I once heard a definition of humility that’s worth passing on. Maybe you’ve heard it, but here it is anyway: Humility is not thinking less about about yourself; it’s thinking about yourself less.
To boast about how little we South Dakotans value ourselves – our work, our contributions to the community around us, our legacies that we bequeath to family or friends – is just selfish.
That attitude does little to pass on the blessed talents and skills that are entrusted to us.
Sanford’s donations, contrary to the opinions of some, do not scream: “Hey, look at me. I’m great.”
Instead, the gifts say: “Hey, look at you. You’re great.”
And the humble simply reply: “Thank you.”
|
