Loree Johns
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Pride: How to Keep From Falling Into That Pit

February 21, 2016 by Loree

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So regal,
Such posture
A monument of colossal proportions,
So unintentionally hilarious.

Nestled in the heart of the city, the cool shade of the plaza gave us relief in a mid eighties day. Postcard perfect, vendors were scattered about selling trinkets and food. Though the smells were tantalizing, fearing Montezuma’s Revenge on our delicate western stomaches, we refrained from purchasing.

As we crossed it’s cobblestone length, the tour guide stopped in front of this statue. I admit to having a real fascination with sculptures. I have a master’s degree in art, so I understand painting and the process. Sculpting was never my medium, so I have an awe about the rendering of stone or metals into supple-looking cloth. It was made of bronze yet every wrinkle and fold was perfectly executed to simulate reality.

He somberly told us it was Christopher Columbus, who discovered the Dominican Republic in 1492.

He was not the first to discover America. He landed in the Dominican Republic and actually lived there for a while. In 1509 his son, Diego built a huge mansion in Santo Domingo and became the Governor of the Indies.

I had no idea.

How cool is it that I travelled to a destination to enjoy the beach and ocean, and as a perk found out I was following in Chris Columbus’ footsteps.

Its funny if you think about it. The places we put ourselves, the recognitions we desire and the vain ways we self-promote.

Mr. Columbus returned to Spain in 1502, a fifty-three-year old man in ill health. Queen Isabella died three weeks later and he never gained an audience with King Ferdinand before his own death two years later. He died a disappointed man, never receiving the recognition from the King that he felt he deserved.

Solomon would call it all worthless vanity, meaningless and futile.

I don’t know what type of man he was. I am sure he was bold and brave, but I don’t know if he was prideful or humble. He probably never saw this sculpture in his lifetime. Yet here he was standing to be honored by people centuries later.

I tried to be respectful and properly impressed

But I couldn’t help but giggle to myself.

He was covered in pigeons and poop.

****************
1 John 2:16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

-It’s so easy to get sucked in to what we believe we deserve.

-Thank God as you count your blessings, and forget your own accomplishments, which pale in comparison to what he did for us.

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Posted in: Praise and Thanks, Pursuit of All Things Godly, Travel Tagged: 1 John 2:16, blessings, Christopher Columbus, Dominican Republic, pigeons, pride, Santo Domingo, sculpture, vanity
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Learn how to rewrite your messy stories one grace at a time. In these 52 devotionals, we share stories of hilarity and hardship to uncover how God transforms our mayhem and invites us to live free.
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