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“When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Proverbs 11:2, BSB.

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Bbród: A Tale of pride in an Ancient Scottish Village

Once upon a time and it was, indeed, a long time ago when communities were kind. In the 17^th century village of Dhiomhan, known for its misty, sepia mornings and narrow shepherd’s paths, there lived a wise woman named Eilidh. She was gentle and revered for her human kindness, and villagers often sought her counsel to navigate life's rocky pathways.

One day, a young villager named Wallace approached her whilst she was farming the croft, his face tense and bloated  like a cooked haggis. “Eilidh,” he said, “I don't know what I'm going to do. There is a man here, Seanchas, who has slandered my name too many times. He boasts all the time. I want to confront him, to show him how damaging his words are.”

Eilidh nodded thoughtfully and compassionately and motioned for Wallace to sit beside her. After a moment of silence, she began to share a story that would help him see the matter from a different perspective.

“Long ago,” Eilidh began, “there was a proud wolf named Seanchas who roamed these valleys and glens. Seanchas took great pride in his sleekit cunning, believing himself to be inescapable to all the other animals. He boasted loudly, mocking those he saw as weak. ‘Who needs the company of lesser creatures?’ he would sneer. ‘I am enough by myself.’

“As the seasons passed, Seanchas’s words spread through the forest, and the animals began to keep their distance. His slander and pride left him isolated, and with every boast, every insult, he became more alone. When he needed help or companionship, there was no one beside him. His pride was a wall that kept others away.

“Then, one harsh winter, when food was scarce, Seanchas found himself struggling to survive. He grew thin, and without anyone to rely on, he became a shadow of his former self, roaming the forest in lonely silence. His strength was no longer a comfort, and his slander had left only bitterness in his heart.

 “One day, Seanchas spotted a humble tortoise named China, slowly making her way through the snow. China had always been steady and kind, never boasting or putting others down. Though Seanchas had once slandered her, she was surrounded by friends who admired her for her wisdom and compassion. They offered her food and warmth, while Seanchas remained alone.

“Disgraced and lonely, Seanchas finally understood that his pride had cost him everything. His own words had built the walls that isolated him, leaving him with a bitter existence. Too late, he saw that, as the proverb says, ‘When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.’”

Eilidh looked at Wallace and continued softly, “Seanchas’s pride has already made him lonely. He may not see it yet, but his slander and boasts only build walls around him. If you confront him, you will only add to his fortress of pride and bitterness. Instead, live honourably and humbly, letting others see the difference. In time, they will recognize his words for what they are, and his pride will leave him in the isolation he has chosen.”

Wallace sat quietly, absorbing Eilidh’s words. He realized that confronting Seanchas would only draw him into the same cycle of pride and loneliness. Choosing humility, he understood, would allow him to live freely, surrounded by respect and the warmth of true companionship.

As he left Eilidh’s cottage, the village seemed brighter, and his heart lighter, knowing that true wisdom and connection came not through retaliation, but through humility. From that day forward, Wallace held close the truth: “When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.”