False Pride

 Pride in myself can be very good, but not if it makes me feel superior to someone else.  If that is the case, then I am full of judgment, criticism, and separation from the “other.”  Thus I close the door on God, my spiritual power.  My God lives in all creation in order to show us connection, not separation.  Nature, the earth, is not other than but rather part of me.  I can have pride in my work, in a good effort, and it is graced if I feel connection with others, rathe than “better than.”  People in recovery programs and healthy worship groups in religion, all feel connected to one another.  This is how a community builds: one stranger, on newcomer welcomed at a time.