Meekness is not to be confused with weakness. It is the wisest attribute that one can hope to attain. Who has walked this road? The Catholic tradition has penned the path of meekness in the Latin, “via dolorosa,” or the way of suffering. It is choosing the narrow path and resisting pride and anger in the heart. It is the greatest weapon and requires force and violence in one’s own heart against his or her very nature. How is one to learn and follow in this path of suffering, of going the path less taken and resisting pride? One must follow those who have walked the path before him.
Who has walked this path? Who has gone before him and shown what meekness looks like? There is so much confusion on the subject, and little or no emphasis in hoping to attain this attribute today. In one’s attempt to attain meekness, one runs to the next leadership workshop and self-help gurus. One should instead learn from those who have wielded the sword of meekness to make social and moral change in the culture in which they lived.
People like Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, and Jesus of Nazareth all made a difference. The kind of impact and influence they achieved is almost unparalleled even today. When one evaluates the long run, is it going to be worthwhile to be meek? The answer still lingers in the impact that has been permanently etched by those who embraced meekness before us. One must take a deeper look at the blessed meek, the very people who embraced meekness and their own experience following the narrow path.
“if u think meek is weak, try bein meek for a week”
-Shai Linne