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A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.
“Madonna of Humility” is from Italy, late 1370; Caterino Veneziano. It is made of Tempera and gold on a wood panel. The overall dimensions of the framed piece are 91.5 x 70 x 4 cm (36 x 27 9/16 x 1 9/16 in.); Unframed: 79.6 x 54.6 cm (31 5/16 x 21 1/2 in.). As the Cleveland Museum of Art states the word humility is from the Latin humus, meaning earth or ground. The artist emphasized the Virgins’ humanity and her ability alone of all of humankind to bear and nurture the son of God. It was a gift of Dr. Rudolf J. Heinemann. It is on view in the Gallery 110C Italian Gothic. The image is in the public domain. Accession number is 1963.500.
Devi Durga in Hinduism is worshiped in different forms and considered a form of Shakti. There are different reincarnations of Durga include Shakti, Kali, Gauri, Uma, Parvati, Chandi, Ambika, Lalita, Bhavani, Bhagvati, Java, Rajeshwari and other forms. The name “Durga” means the ‘invincible’ in Sanskrit. Devi Durga symbolizes freedom from all evils. The word Durga embodies freedom from all evils like injustice, cruelty, hatred, ego and other forms of pain and suffering. All the forms of Durga are worshipped in India.
The legend goes that Durga was created by the Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to fight the demon Mahisasura, who could not be defeated by either man or God and was continually reigning terror on man and God alike. By killing the demon, Durga freed the world from the demon’s tyranny and has been known as the destroyer of evil since. Durga is popularly depicted as a Goddess wearing red clothes, with ten arms and armed with weapons and a lotus flower and riding a lion or tiger. The red clothes signify fierceness in fighting evil, and the arms suggest that the Devi Durga protects her devotee from all directions.
The weapons held by Durga are given to her by each of the Gods and symbolize the culmination of all the divine powers in her – Shiva’s trident or ’trishul’, Vishnu’s discus or ‘Sudarshana chakra’, Brahma’s Kamandalu, Indra’s thunderbolt, Kuber’s Ratnahar and other weapons given by different Gods. This also suggested that Durga possesses all the weapons necessary to fight evil. The lotus in Durga’s hand is known as ‘pankaja’ and symbolizes the evolution of spirituality among the evils prevalent in this world. Goddess Durga also holds a conch in one of her hands which is known to produce the sound of ‘Om’, which is equivalent to the sound of God in Hinduism. The lion or tiger represents complete power and determination implying that these virtues are required to obtain victory over evil.
Goddess Durga has been worshipped for time immemorial with mention in certain scriptures like the Vedas. Durga Puja is a festival during which Goddess Durga is worshiped. This festival is very popular in the States of West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Nepal, although the victory of Durga over Mahisasura is also celebrated in other States of India as well. During this festival Goddess Durga is worshipped as the mother of Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha and Kartikeya.
It must be hard to be vain with perhaps the greatest humility plates of all time. They're no OPN♥WDE, but ...c'mon.
(Lab nostalgia led to poking through a "From Berkeley" album.)
196,113 items / 1,605,815 views
Aiee means mother in Marathi.
That is what both Marziya and I call her .. with respect and with devotion for her station in life.
She stays at Chinchpokli road Bandra
I have been shooting her for a long time now but we hardly talk , she smiles considers me mad shooting her pictures , but when Marziya held the camera in her hand and took this shot she realized perhaps , even madness gives birth to creativity.. whether Marziya is a product of my street madness I dont know,but Marziya at 3 years makes me unlearn photography, from a manual which is not written by any eminent photographer.
I taught Marziya to hold the camera when she was very young, and camera etiquette , Marziya will never take the camera without placing the strap around her fragile neck, and the Nikon D 80 is a heavy camera for a child.
I made Marziya take the next few shots too , and she does it with a passion that is clearly from within the soul of the camera.
Marziya at times is very impulsive , she likes to shoot pictures when she is in a mood, otherwise she refuses to take the camera in her hand.
Even when she stands before my camera I have to ask her , or she will turn her face or howl at me, so she knows when to stop and when to begin .
Every morning she wears her Press Card ,Marzya has her Press Card too of Bandra Times , when we go down to the bazar to pick up the newspapers , she shoots the Desi Murgiwala , or we come back home , without shooting anything.
Marziya does not get intimidated by crowds that gather around her when she shoots she just looks through them, she sees what she has shot avidly on my sons lap top given to me as my computer is at the repairers , , but most of the time I show her pictures I shot when she was born, 11900 on my Flickr stream, she has only seen a few and she knows the chubby kid is her, she will tell me proudly Dada that is me.
So I teach my elder sons daughter Marziya Shakir 3 year old the art of living in peace with a camera, mans gift to Humanity.
And I want Marziya Shakir to be able to see life and shoot good pictures , and here photography is a means to an end not for money fame or iconic glory.
After seeing some of the shit that I come across in newspapers I think Marziya is million light years away from the way they handle their high end cameras.
And Marziya Shakir has her own Nikon D 80 a present from her Guru her Godfather Dr Glenn Losack MD of Manhattan New York.. in a way Glenn is my Guru too..
The first lesson in photography Marziya learnt is humility , she kissed the hand of the Marathi lady Aiee after she has taken all the shots.
And than I shot them both together.
update 8 Aug 2011
And Marziya got another gift from another kind Uncle , almost a son and a loving friend to me, did he read my inner mind as both my cameras were in very bad shape , overworked overused and attacked by the vagaries of rain blood and gulal, the cameras have slipped from my hands too , I sometimes dont strap them round my neck.. but that was long time back..
And the Nikon D 3100 is Marziyas I wont use it save in the house to shoot her and Nerjis Asif Shakir her 22 day old sister , already waiting in the wings , the feel of the camera on the first day of your life , a few hours after having stayed 9 months in the womb could change your life too, but than every kid does not have crazy Malang grand father like me..Asif Nerjis Shakir was born as Google+kid but she is on her own now at Facebook + .Thank you Marc Zuckerburg for allowing Nerjis Asif Shakir to use Facebook as a blog on the first day of her life..
And Indiblogger Rene Ranvin God of Blogs is her proud godfather .. he is Marziyas and my own god father too..
And thank you Uncle out there for the Nikon D 3100..
This is a small, baseball-sized carved statue that was given to me by a friend back in college. He called it the "Worrying Man." It goes by many other names, including the "Weeping Buddha".
Taken with the Pentax K10D camera using the smc P-D FA 100mm F2.8 lens. Lighting with Pentax AF540FGZ at 1/4 power, gridded, with Just Blue gel. This flash was suspended on a boom over the figure. Second flash AF160SA (program setting) on camera left with 1/2 CTB gel.All fired with Cactus V5 triggers.
Humility aka Modesty (opposes pride) - Modest behavior, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one's own self.
I take little to no credit for any amazingness portrayed in this image. Every ounce of creativity held within it came directly from others here on flickr (the 365 group, more specifically.)
- first off we have Rachel-B who inspired me with her rock angel last week... granted there's snow on the ground, I still thought it was the perfect opportunity to copycat the shot. (ftr: my driveway is all gravel, and there's barely even an inch out there)
- secondly, teekathepony's Day 14 - Jan. 16 led me straight to the snow... (was trying to get a purity vein here with the fun frolicking in the background!)
- and finally, there's Casa De Woof, who's constant 2forTuesday shots make me want to polish my skills!
I had no imagination flowing through me today... instead my brain was swimming with thoughts on copyright, CreativeCommons, attribution, the impact of simplified "publishing" with the advances of the internet, etc. Sooooo, this seemed appropriate *shrug*
[blogged]
A public work of art capturing the heart, soul, intelligence, and humility of Leonard Cohen (1934-2016).
In tribute to a Montréal icon, a larger-than-life mural commemorating singer, songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen gazes tenderly down upon Crescent Street. The towering image depicts Cohen, sporting his signature fedora with his hand over his heart and, in the background, his highly symbolic Unified Heart icon.
Led by Montréal artist Gene Pendon and internationally renowned American street portrait artist El Mac, “Tower of Songs” took 2 muralists, 13 assistant artists, 240 cans of paint and thousands of hours of work to replicate a photograph taken by his daughter, Lorca Cohen.
This immense 10,000 square-foot mural rising 21 storeys above the city can easily be admired from the Mount Royal Observatory as well as from the Glass Court of the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts. In the evening, the mural lights up with a soft lighting, but no less spectacular, just like the great Leonard.
Commissioned by MU, a non-profit organization whose mission is to beautify the city of Montréal by creating murals that are anchored in local communities, the mural is a part of MU’s Tribute to Montréal’s Great Artists series.
www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/heritage-and-architecture/leona...
Ivy struck me as a little sad, all on her own. For all that kindness and humility she doesn't seem all that close to anyone. Though people evidently visit the grave from time to time.
O God, when we were helpless babies in need to be clean,
You have blessed us with our loving parents that we may bathed.
To be cleansed from any impurities that we may always be healthy.
Freshness and rejuvenation is what we get from the care of our loving parents.
Humility is what we learn to be worthy Servants of God.
As the health of babies also depend on the concern of their loved ones.
That loving parents be praised as the source of health for the least.
That Love for the least be the source of Spiritual health of Humanity.
Amen.
Sul fianco destro sono riconoscibili le piccole aperture e il rosone della primitiva facciata risalente al XII secolo, mentre l'attuale facciata, già attribuita ad Andrea Palladio e ora riferita all'opera di Vincenzo Dotto e di Giambattista della Sala, è scandita da quattro semi colonne corinzie poste su alto basamento e gioca sulle tonalità del cotto e dell'intonaco. Le nicchie tra gli intercolumni sono occupate da l'Umiltà (o la Purità) e la Verginità, di Antonio Bonazza. Sopra, due bassorilievi settecenteschi raffiguranti i la prova e il martirio dei santi titolari della chiesa. Sotto, a sinistra, la lapide funeraria del medico Bartolomeo Campo, a destra un'iscrizione che ricorda il testamento di don Cesare Mantova. Sull'attico sono posti le statue de I quattro Evangelisti, opere di Pietro Danieletti. Sulla falsa arcata che si apre al centro della facciata, un affresco monumentale di Guy Louis II Vernansal raffigurante l'Immacolata Concezione tra i santi titolari, opera gravemente danneggiata dalle intemperie.
{from it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_di_San_Canziano_(Padova)}
... the present façade was previously attributed to Andrea Palladio but is now considered to be the work of Vincenzo Dotto & Giambattista della Sala. In the niches between the semi-columns are depicted Humility {or Purity} & Virginity, works of Antonio Bonazza. Above them, two 17th-century reliëfs depicting the trials & matryrdom of the patron saints. At the top, the 4 evangelists, works of Pietro Danieletti. In the center, a weathered fresco of the immaculate conception with the patron saints of the church, by Guy Louis II Vernansal.
COURAGE & RESIST
WOMEN SHOW UP
“To live greatly, we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility.” ―Thomas S. Monson, Pathways To Perfection: Discourses Of Thomas S. Monson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Deb Mukherjee (or Mukherji) (Bengali: দেব মুখার্জি) is a Bengali Indian actor. He is the father of director Ayan Mukerji.
He is part of the famous Mukherjee family which spans four generations. His family has been in the Bollywood industry since the 1940s. His family includes his father Sashadhar Mukherjee, the owner of Filmalaya studios. His brothers are Joy Mukherjee a successful actor in the 60's and Shomu Mukherjee, the husband of actress Tanuja. His nieces are actresses Kajol and her sister Tanisha. Other members of the Mukherjee family include Rani Mukerji and Sharbani Mukherjee. (see Mukherjee-Samarth family (film))
[edit]Filmography
Kaminey (2009)
Gudgudee (1997) ... Shekhar
Rock Dancer (1995)
Dalaal (1993) (as Dev Mukherjee)
Aansoo Bane Angaray (1993)
King Uncle (1993) ... (Guest Appearance)
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander (1992) ... Rajput College Coach
Karate (1983) ... Desh
Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978) ... Pratap Chouhan
Haiwan (1977)
Do Aankhen (1974)
Ek Bar Mooskura Do (1972)
Zindagi Zindagi (1972) ... Shayer/singer
Adhikar (1971) ... Shyam
Abhinetri (1970)
Sambandh (1969) .... Manav/Mohan Singh/Amit Roy
Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool (1969) .... Chandrashekhar
Tu hi Meri Zindagi (1965)
St Mary’s Hall Independent School for girls in Brighton was founded by the Rev. Henry Venn Elliott (1792-1865) for the “daughters of poor clergy”. The school catered for girls aged from 8 to 18 and quickly gained a reputation for excellence in education. Following merger with the Roedean Independent School in 2009, the St Mary’s Hall senior school was closed. Later in 2011, St. Mary’s Hall junior school was phased out and the Hall buildings sold, which now house the administration offices of the nearby Sussex County Hospital.
The badge depicts the school motto 'BEFORE HONOR IS HUMILITY'.
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References:
www.smhassociation.org.uk/about-us (History of St. Mary’s Hall school for girls).
www.smhassociation.org.uk/downloads/HistoryofSMH.PDF (A more detailed history of St. Mary’s Hall school).
www.mybrightonandhove.org.uk/page_id__8843_img__13833_pat... (Pre-1918 postcard image of St. Mary’s Hall school building. It would still have looked much the same at the time of their centenary in 1936).
www.roedean.co.uk/ (Roedean Independent School for girls website).
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Venn_Elliott (Henry Venn Elliott, founder of St. Mary’s Hall school).
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Enamels: 1 (blue).
Finish: Gilt.
Material: Brass.
Fixer: Pin.
Size: 1 1/8” diameter (about 28mm).
Process: Die stamped.
Maker: No maker’s name or mark.
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Thank you for reading.
Stuart.
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Sold 28/3/2012 on eBay for €4.75
O Lord Jesus Christ, even if You are our King and Lord,
You washed the feet of Your disciples.
You are the Son of God, but You kneeled down to cleanse away the dirt from their bodies.
You are Our Creator, but You showed Compassion for those lower than You in service.
We see The Holy Spirit of Humility in You O Lord Jesus Christ.
That You are our leader, but You bow down to show that You are humble to us mere servants.
That we as Your mere servants may also be of service to those who are lower than us in status.
That we may personally serve each other without putting ourselves greater than the others.
But that all Spiritual Leaders may humbly treat themselves equal with all followers.
We are all servants, that we may not compete each other to be the leader of all.
But instead, we may all seek to be the servant of all servants.
A kind of servant who serves rather than to be followed.
A kind of servant who listens more than to talk.
A kind of servant who is humble more than to be adored and praised.
For only Our Lord Jesus Christ is our True source of our Holy Spirit of Humility.
That we may see Your Spirit amongst the Poor and the Needy,
That we may all personally serve them with that same Holy Spirit of Compassion and service.
Amen.
On the final night of Navaratri, we celebrate Goddess Siddhidatri, who is an aspect of Maha Lakshmi. She is the ultimate form of the Nava Durgas, and the shashtras say she can only be worshiped after all of the other forms have been venerated.
She is the One who delivers success. Those who worship Her with full devotion are bestowed the eighteen forms of success. According to the Puranas, even Lord Shiva achieved salvation through Her Grace. She grants perfection and the power to act with gratitude and humility, revealing the Love of God.
paramahamsavishwananda.com
bhaktimarga.org
We are preaching yesterday, in the mountains of Cabadiangan, Compostela, Philippines. And I chanced to capture this child on a little store hugging her basketball.
See her humility. This is not to degrade her. But being a child, she does not care about the way she wear a shirt with an armpit tear.
Little children are Jesus Christ's best example of humility. The passage is at the Bible at Matthew 18:1-6.
18 In that hour the disciples came near to Jesus and said: “Who really is greatest in the kingdom of the heavens?” 2 So, calling a young child to him, he set it in their midst 3 and said: “Truly I say to YOU, Unless YOU turn around and become as young children, YOU will by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens. 4 Therefore, whoever will humble himself like this young child is the one that is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens; 5 and whoever receives one such young child on the basis of my name receives me [also]. 6 But whoever stumbles one of these little ones who put faith in me, it is more beneficial for him to have hung around his neck a millstone such as is turned by an ass and to be sunk in the wide, open sea.
O God, please bless all parents throughout Humanity –
That they may all gather together in the Spirit of Prayer.
Please fill them with The Holy Spirit of Wisdom,
That they may all have God’s Holy Presence in everything they say or do.
Please guide them to discuss issues that affect marriages, families, communities and Humanity.
That they may trust the Holy Spirit of Goodness in their Heart for Good Judgment.
May these be ways of uniting couples in need for forgiveness and reconciliation.
May these be ways of settling family conflicts.
May these be ways of admonishing couples who needs to be more righteous in their communities.
May these be ways of making resolutions to be fulfilled for the betterment of Humanity.
They are followers O God, and please bless them as worthy Pastors of their families.
To speak of Holy Virtues of Humility, Love, Forgiveness, Justice and Peace.
That whatever they do may always be for alleviating social injustice –
Amongst the Poor and the Needy throughout Humanity.
That parents, families, communities and Humanity may be more loving and concerned.
Amen.
O God, please help all communities to unite through God’s Wisdom and Love.
As family members unite to become One Holy Family,
And all families unite to become One Holy Community,
Then please unite all communities to become One Holy Spirit on Earth as God’s People.
To protect God’s Justice and Peace for Humanity.
That Spiritual Life may be protected and preserved on Earth.
That God’s People may be blessed by God as a Holy Spirit of Love for Humanity –
Worthy of understanding the essence of Holy Virtues of Humility, Love, Peace and Joy –
That Humanity may survive to live on until the end of time.
Amen.
'Without humility of the heart, all the other virtues by which one runs towards God seem - and are - absolutely worthless. ' -- Angela of Foligno
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When it comes to our national self-image, humility gave way to hubris long ago.
Politicians not only proclaim the United States the greatest society the world has known, but say that it will remain so forever.
Thankfully, that's what we have artists for. And that's why we have video games like "Homefront."
Written by John Milius, a screenwriter of "Apocalypse Now'' and "Red Dawn,'' "Homefront" conveys a chilling, gripping, not entirely ludicrous version of America's fall. Strictly as a game -- mechanically, technically -- "Homefront" is pedestrian. But as a provocative, emotionally involving and politically relevant creative experience, it is vital. Were it a film, "Homefront" might already be a topic of national discussion.
What follows is a description of the future as imagined in the game, developed in New York by Kaos Studios and released recently by THQ for Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
2012: The United States begins a military withdrawal from the Middle East. North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-il, dies and is succeeded by his son Kim Jong-un.
2013: Saudi Arabia ramps up its militarization and begins to square off against Iran for control in the Middle East. Oil markets roil. Kim Jong-un begins reunification talks with South Korea and ignites a wave of anti-Americanism across Asia. The American military withdraws from South Korea.
2014: General Motors declares bankruptcy again. American department stores and consumers experience scarcity for the first time in decades.
2015: Korea is unified, and Kim Jong-un is elected president.
2018: Korea declares war against Japan. Korean special forces sabotage a Japanese nuclear power plant, causing a meltdown and a huge radiation leak. Japan capitulates to Korean occupation.
Which is where you come in. As "Homefront" begins, in 2027, you are inducted into the Resistance in Colorado. Western America has become an occupied wasteland of the Korean military, devastated suburban tracts and pockets of crazed survivalists.
The basic shooting and combat mechanisms in "Homefront" are standard fare. And the main single-player story campaign is brief, perhaps five hours at most, though the multiplayer modes are surprisingly engaging.
What makes "Homefront" stand out from all the other shooting games is its setting and its ambition to grapple with a vision of what could happen in the real world if absolutely everything were to go wrong. When you see images of bulldozers pushing around mounds of American corpses, citizens in an internment camp in what used to be a high school football stadium and the twisted wreckage of a suburban White Castle or Hooters restaurant, you feel an emotional connection to the action that simply doesn't accompany a science-fiction game set on a faraway planet.
As unpalatable as it may be, the inkling that America might not necessarily be the most important place in the world forever is finally sinking into our national consciousness. No matter what politicians say.
"Poverty is a noose that strangles humility and breeds disrespect for God and man." -American Indian Proverb, Sioux
This was taken in the Divis Flats, thankfully pulled down now, one of the most deprived areas of Belfast and a breeding ground for future terrorists. This was taken as I had just finished searching a flat and was taking a break from the stench of fouled nappies and human dirt. I suddenly realised that we had no "resident" backup and heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Luckily it was a section of soldiers sent to assist. He was relived as well when I exchanged my 9mm for my trusty Nikon F1.
Photos by Miller Taylor.
April 2015 CreativeMornings/Raleigh event (global theme: Humility) with guest speakers Mike and Megan Gilger, husband and wife creative team behind Wild Measure studio and The Fresh Exchange blog.
In 2009, Megan and Mike began their lifestyle and design blog, The Fresh Exchange Today, the blog reaches over a half million people everyday, inspiring creators of all kinds to pursue their dreams and live a beautiful and intentional life. The creative couple works together to create original content through photo, video, editorial writing, aesthetic curation, and social media. With a simple, natural, and organic nature to their content, Megan and Mike have had the opportunity to work with brands such as Smartwater, Bing, Gap, Madewell, Bota Box, Levi’s, Feedly, Kinfolk Magazine, Over, Warby Parker, Tuft & Needle, Shinola, and many others.
Special thanks to our host CAM Raleigh and sponsors CompostNow, Counter Culture Coffee, who generously provided us with complimentary coffee, Yellow Dog Bread Company, who provided the tasty breakfast snacks, and Raleigh Raw , who provided the healthy, cold-pressed juice.
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.
”One is Evil – It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed,
arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride,
superiority, and ego.
”The other is God – It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility,
kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather:
”Which wolf wins?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
O God, please teach all children the holy ways for recreational activities -
That they may offer these to You as their fellowship with one another.
These activities may require physical skills and intelligence,
But may children do their best not to be better than others,
But an opportunity to speak kind words of encouragement to others as a Children of God.
May they enjoy the activities never to make enemies,
But a chance to build friendships amongst all children.
May they always be humble, never to boast their skills,
But rather respect everyone as a people with a Spirit.
These that they may enjoy each other’s company through activities worthy of offering to Heaven.
To cooperate with one another to win in the activity,
But the most humble groups are the True winners in Heaven.
All these that smiles, laughter and Joy may prevail - even to be happy for the blessings of others.
That our goal is greater than fame, material gains and rewards.
But be aware that there are many other activities that rather bring Unity to people.
That Humanity be saved from the desires for competition,
But rather teaches children the Holy Virtues of Compassion for the Needy.
As the greatest winners are those who pour their skills –
To be concerned for the Poor.
This includes all activities for physical health, but rather unity for spiritual health.
For children need to understand that physical looks and skills, status and intelligence –
Is not what truly gives Dignity and Honor to Children.
As the True meaning of winning is to put God’s Humility above our human desires to win in activities.
But learn to work in cooperation to have responsibility for Humanity.
That Children may rather bring Family Love amongst all.
Amen.
Christ washes the feet of the disciples to demonstrate humility (John 13:1-20). Detail of Passion Window in the ambulatory of Bourges Cathedral, dating from c.1215-25.
If there is any advice Col. Kirk Gibbs can give to his successor, it is this: Lead with honor and humility.
As Gibbs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District’s 61st commander, prepares to relinquish command of the LA District July 19 to Col. Aaron Barta, he offered up some advice and reflected on the past three years as the leader of one of the largest Corps districts in the country.
There are many things Gibbs said he is proud of when it comes to the LA District, but three things stand out: the District being recognized two years in a row as a "Best Place to Work" in the Corps; completing Weed Army Hospital at Fort Irwin, California – the Department of Defense’s only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Platinum, carbon-neutral, net-zero certifiable hospital – on time and within budget; and the one-on-one time he was able to spend with employees in the District.
It is the people Gibbs said he will miss the most – the employees and the District’s close partners across the four-state area.
“I have never focused on relationships like I have here in this District, and I sincerely believe it is part of the District's culture,” he said. “When projects are tough, the close relationships get us through those challenges and ultimately deliver the program.”
During his time with the LA District, Gibbs has overseen a multimillion-dollar program that provides engineering, construction, planning, contracting, real estate, emergency operations, environmental and regulatory services to military, federal, state and local governments across a 226,000-square-mile area of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. That also includes leading about 750 military and civilian personnel with a wide array of expertise.
But leading people is nothing new to Gibbs, who has served for more than 24 years as an active-duty Soldier, leading both military and civilian personnel.
“Each person is different, and I have learned that good leaders get to know each person individually and then lead them in a way that brings out the best in that employee,” he said.
Providing priorities and a solid intent on the District’s missions, particularly disaster response operations, helps employees stay focused on what’s really important, he said.
Gibbs will now serve as the chief of staff at the Corps’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. There, he said, he hopes to be an advocate for all of the Corps’ districts nationwide.
“I feel that this District and the great people are responsible for giving me the incredible opportunity of being the Corps’ chief of staff,” he said. “The people have taught me so much, and I will take that with me to make a positive impact on the Corps’ enterprise and help our Districts deliver our programs in civil works, military, Interagency and International Services, real estate and regulatory.”
Gibbs knows how the importance of mentors and having a good support system have played in shaping his career, and he credits his parents with instilling in him respect for others; his wife, Kim, who taught him to endure all challenges, no matter how great, with grace and dignity; and his former chief of staff – Col. Steve Hill – for giving him tough jobs to prepare him for success.
“(Hill) gave me tough jobs that I thought he could have done at the time, but as I look back, the toughest assignments he gave me in that civilian organization at the Corps headquarters prepared me for District command and enabled me to achieve the goal of commanding at the battalion, brigade and District levels,” he said. “I also remember he told me I would be a chief of staff for the Corps one day. He was preparing me for that. I didn't believe him, but that is my next job.”
And, as for additional advice he can share with Barta, Gibbs provided these words of wisdom:
- Be prepared to change leadership style when leading a District of professional civilians. Don't lead them in the same way as Soldiers;
- Engage with people and get around to see them across the District's entire area of operation. Don't sit behind a desk;
- Study hard initially and learn the policies, processes and programs. “You will never be the expert, but you must prepare yourself to make effective decisions as quickly as possible”;
- Always provide a commander's intent and an end state. The civilian workforce appreciates that; and, lastly,
- Lead with honor and humility. “It isn't about you. It is about the District's people and our vital mission.”
As for the future of the LA District, Gibbs said he hopes future leaders continue to change the culture to an organization that is more risk tolerant in streamlining processes and moving projects forward; deliver the Department of Veterans Affairs and Customs and Border Protection programs phenomenally – on time, within budget and to the highest quality; and to remain a "Best Place to Work" in order to retain and recruit talent to the high-cost living area of Southern California.
“I want the District to do what it always does and ‘knock those programs out of the park,’” he said.
If there is any advice Col. Kirk Gibbs can give to his successor, it is this: Lead with honor and humility.
As Gibbs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District’s 61st commander, prepares to relinquish command of the LA District July 19 to Col. Aaron Barta, he offered up some advice and reflected on the past three years as the leader of one of the largest Corps districts in the country.
There are many things Gibbs said he is proud of when it comes to the LA District, but three things stand out: the District being recognized two years in a row as a "Best Place to Work" in the Corps; completing Weed Army Hospital at Fort Irwin, California – the Department of Defense’s only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Platinum, carbon-neutral, net-zero certifiable hospital – on time and within budget; and the one-on-one time he was able to spend with employees in the District.
It is the people Gibbs said he will miss the most – the employees and the District’s close partners across the four-state area.
“I have never focused on relationships like I have here in this District, and I sincerely believe it is part of the District's culture,” he said. “When projects are tough, the close relationships get us through those challenges and ultimately deliver the program.”
During his time with the LA District, Gibbs has overseen a multimillion-dollar program that provides engineering, construction, planning, contracting, real estate, emergency operations, environmental and regulatory services to military, federal, state and local governments across a 226,000-square-mile area of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. That also includes leading about 750 military and civilian personnel with a wide array of expertise.
But leading people is nothing new to Gibbs, who has served for more than 24 years as an active-duty Soldier, leading both military and civilian personnel.
“Each person is different, and I have learned that good leaders get to know each person individually and then lead them in a way that brings out the best in that employee,” he said.
Providing priorities and a solid intent on the District’s missions, particularly disaster response operations, helps employees stay focused on what’s really important, he said.
Gibbs will now serve as the chief of staff at the Corps’ headquarters in Washington, D.C. There, he said, he hopes to be an advocate for all of the Corps’ districts nationwide.
“I feel that this District and the great people are responsible for giving me the incredible opportunity of being the Corps’ chief of staff,” he said. “The people have taught me so much, and I will take that with me to make a positive impact on the Corps’ enterprise and help our Districts deliver our programs in civil works, military, Interagency and International Services, real estate and regulatory.”
Gibbs knows how the importance of mentors and having a good support system have played in shaping his career, and he credits his parents with instilling in him respect for others; his wife, Kim, who taught him to endure all challenges, no matter how great, with grace and dignity; and his former chief of staff – Col. Steve Hill – for giving him tough jobs to prepare him for success.
“(Hill) gave me tough jobs that I thought he could have done at the time, but as I look back, the toughest assignments he gave me in that civilian organization at the Corps headquarters prepared me for District command and enabled me to achieve the goal of commanding at the battalion, brigade and District levels,” he said. “I also remember he told me I would be a chief of staff for the Corps one day. He was preparing me for that. I didn't believe him, but that is my next job.”
And, as for additional advice he can share with Barta, Gibbs provided these words of wisdom:
- Be prepared to change leadership style when leading a District of professional civilians. Don't lead them in the same way as Soldiers;
- Engage with people and get around to see them across the District's entire area of operation. Don't sit behind a desk;
- Study hard initially and learn the policies, processes and programs. “You will never be the expert, but you must prepare yourself to make effective decisions as quickly as possible”;
- Always provide a commander's intent and an end state. The civilian workforce appreciates that; and, lastly,
- Lead with honor and humility. “It isn't about you. It is about the District's people and our vital mission.”
As for the future of the LA District, Gibbs said he hopes future leaders continue to change the culture to an organization that is more risk tolerant in streamlining processes and moving projects forward; deliver the Department of Veterans Affairs and Customs and Border Protection programs phenomenally – on time, within budget and to the highest quality; and to remain a "Best Place to Work" in order to retain and recruit talent to the high-cost living area of Southern California.
“I want the District to do what it always does and ‘knock those programs out of the park,’” he said.
There is such deep humility that goes into loving the people around oneself.
Too often, we're cheated out of this love by substituting fuzzy emotional feelings that promise us the world, yet when we're at our lowest point, leave us completely empty. Yet, as I struggled today with putting others before myself, I was reminded that when we're called to love others because God first loved us in 1 John 4:19, such a thing can only be achieved when we come before God and admit that by our own strength there is no way we can do that.
I really don't know how to be humble and love.