‘Mid-Point’ a poem by Jo Anastasiadis

Mid-Point

humility on a spectrum
where arrogance, called pride,
spans to the right
where self-debasement, self-rejection,
the inverse of pride,
spans to the left
in the centre: humility
where no one is greater
and no one is lesser
where there is no comparison, no judgement
only being
only love

where the individual does life
true to who they are
on an equal plane with any and every other
yet drawing all to the centre of being
away from ‘i am better’ and ‘i am lesser’
to ‘we are, as we are, together’
gifting to one another the gift of presence
of being

you are you
i am i
each with a gift for the other from self
equals in a world of equals
all of value, all of worth

humility:
nothing to prove
nothing to debase
the gentle seeing of all as loved

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Jo Anastasiadis is a spiritual director in Wellington who loves God’s creation, and seeing others grow in their relationship with God. She has recently rediscovered the delight of play with her young grandchildren, and the joy of simple moments.

This poem was featured in the December 2024 issue of Refresh.

Refresh is SGM’s journal of contemplative spirituality in Aotearoa, New Zealand. You can view the current issue of Refresh or browse the archives in the Refresh section of this website.