Great at being humble...

A few years ago I went with a group of people on a sponsored walk to raise money for the charity Tearfund.  It was a 100 mile walk along Offa's Dyke, the ancient line of the Welsh border.  The walk took 5 days and as we camped each night we would sit around the campfire - well actually a gas cooker - and talk and play games.  One of the people was a genius at maths who loved maths games and puzzles of all kinds.  He was so good at them he couldn't be caught out.  Then one day round the stove I set him a puzzle he couldn't solve.  I put a pile of sticks on the ground and said "what number does that represent".  After a few goes at this everyone else except my mathematical friend could answer easily.  I was using the old trick of extending my fingers and placing them on the ground at the same time as I put the sticks down  in a pile.  Two fingers meant the number two, the sticks were irrelevant.  He didn't get it until I threw down the sticks and placed two hands on the ground with all fingers and thumbs extended while everyone shouted "ten!" in unison.  He loved it, he rolled over backwards in glee.  He was tickled pink at being fooled. At this moment the irritating boy genius became a much liked member of the group.  Just like Peter when he is humbled by denying Jesus (as discussed in the Good News Show on Tuesday) humility, paradoxically, can be a great asset.