By Craig Goodwin-Ortiz de León
Lately, I have been sharing good news about my life. I recently completed my Ph.D., accepted a teaching position, and began preparing for seminary. These are milestones I have prayed for and long hoped to reach. Each one represents years of discernment, effort, and grace. I have shared them with joy, but also with growing hesitation.
After posting these updates, I began to feel an inner restlessness. I wondered whether my expressions of gratitude might be perceived as prideful or performative. I even deleted some of my posts out of concern for how they might appear. I was not ashamed of what God has done in my life, but I wanted to be certain that I was sharing with a spirit of humility. That concern led me deeper into prayer and reflection.
I turned to a familiar passage from The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. In Chapter 2, “Humble Opinion of Self,” he writes, “Be not high-minded, but rather acknowledge thy ignorance… To have no opinion of ourselves and to think always well and commendably of others, is great wisdom and high perfection.” These words challenged me deeply. In a world that encourages us to promote our accomplishments, Kempis invites us to be content with being unknown.
I also returned to Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the publican in Luke 18. The Pharisee prayed aloud about his virtues, while the publican stood at a distance and said only, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus said it was the publican who went home justified. This story helped me examine my own heart. I was not trying to compare myself to others, but I still needed to ask whether I was seeking attention instead of simply offering thanks.
I believe it is good to share moments of joy and gratitude. What matters is the spirit in which we share them. I want my life to reflect God’s faithfulness rather than my own efforts. The blessings I have received are not signs of superiority but reminders of God’s mercy and provision. I want to steward them well and share them with humility and love.
The Jesus Prayer has helped anchor me in this season. I pray often, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” These words remind me that everything I have is a gift. They help me remain grounded in gratitude and aware of my need for God. Even in celebration, I seek to stay close to the heart of Christ.
Under the Fig Tree 