“I Don’t Know” - James' Morning Watch on Humility

Humility & Growth

Each morning at camp we start the day with Morning Watch, where someone from the camp community shares a thought or story. It’s usually related to that week’s theme, or a part of the Falling Creek Code.

Today’s blog is a transcript of what James Drury (staff ‘24-’25) shared on the morning of July 21st, during that day’s Morning Watch. It happened to go with that week’s theme of “humility.”

“I Don’t Know”

By James Drury (staff ’24-’25)

Humility; it’s an interesting topic to discuss in front of a group. As Matt mentioned at Church yesterday, if you stand up in front of a crowd and talk about how humble you are, it really looks like you aren’t…

I wanted to take a slightly different angle on humility this morning - an angle in relation to knowledge and learning. I’m going to talk about the potential and humility behind the phrase, “I don’t know.”

We are taught from a young age that being right brings us praise and success. Be it at work or school, we end up basing our worth on how much we know. This can become a trap, a craving for certainty, or feeling important. This craving can take hold of us and influence our actions. We can start pretending to look like we know, even when we really don’t. Or, we can stick too tightly to our opinions, afraid that changing our minds will make us appear weak.

But all this achieves is a build-up of stress inside. A constant, gnawing fear of being wrong or looking foolish. People are scared to say that they do not know - they fear it. Many treat the phrase as an absolute, as if to say “I don’t know” means that you will never know. But I believe that in saying “I don’t know,” there is honesty, power, and infinite possibility.

It takes courage and humility to admit that you do not know something. But it is the first step on a journey of learning and growth. Not knowing isn’t a problem, it’s an invitation. A chance to explore and discover something new.

Do not fear failure: through every defeat, every arrow missed, every flag pulled, every foot or hand hold that slips, or even every pot that comes out wonky. In all of those, there is a lesson. A lesson which you can think on and use to learn about yourself, why you did what you did, and how you can improve. Have the humility to face your mistake and understand it wholly. From there, you can better yourself.

In the context of learning a new skill, have what I like to call a “beginner’s mindset.” Fully embrace that you do not know, and enter that activity with an open mind and heart. Every technique taught to you, every tip or pointer from an instructor or friend, absorb it all like a sponge. Knowing nothing is beautiful, for it means that there is so much for you to experience in your journey, whichever skill or activity that may be.

This week, have the humility to cast aside everything you think you know, all your expectations or your ability, and find the freedom in saying, “I don’t know.”