An article written by my father, the Rev. C. Thomas Paige, as it appeared in the Tri-State Defender on the date shown.
And now continuing our theme, “Facing up to life,” we find ourselves dealing with another one of the sayings commonly known as the beatitudes. This one reads: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” To me, none of the beatitudes is more misunderstood than this one. Far too many people have a warped definition of the word “meek.”
They have tried to make it mean weak. Down through the generations, some people, because of certain objectives, have tried to make people believe that meekness is weakness. This was never intended in the original.
Most of the authorities consulted hold that the word “meek” means determined. So for a literal translation, the whole thing could be made to read, “Blessed are those who know where they are going and who are going to pay the price for the trip, for they shall inherit the earth.” If any one thing is needed today it is a group of people who know where they are going.
NEVER TURN BACK
Some generations ago, a group of people stood in the heat of the summer sun and cried out, “I’ll never turn back no more.” Maybe they had caught a vision of things far more noble than they had ever enjoyed. Maybe their eyes had been opened as never before. Maybe somewhere down the line they had their ears unstopped and they had heard as never before. But whatever the motive behind it, they sang out in a loud, clear voice, “I’ll never turn back no more.” To them, turning back was an admission of defeat.
To them, turning back was saying, “I was not able to measure up.” The world today needs people of grim determination. People must come on the scene who have come to grips with that which is true, lovely, honest, and just, and who have dedicated themselves to the fact that nothing else shall prevail. The world today needs people who are intellectual, spiritual, moral and social giants — none other need apply. Our world is filled with people who have their moral vision blurred, their spiritual insight covered, and their social perspectives out of sorts. If life has any meaning for people it will be wrapped up in the fact that somewhere down the line, these things must be cleared up.
A PRECAUTION
Yet, let me stop here to offer one precaution: being meek is not an easy task. There is a price and, I might say, a high price, attached to it. Look about you this morning, if you please. You will see many people who were and are meek. To them, life has a peculiar objectivity but as they move toward this objectivity, you can see the wrinkles of wear and tear written upon their faces. You can see tired bodies that have gotten this way because their lives have been filled with long hours of worry, work and care.
Meekness carries along with it a matter of stumbling and getting up again, falling and lying in the mud for a while and lifting one’s eyes while resting in the mud and seeing life as it has never been seen before. Meekness means being able to rise above one’s low abode and being a source of inspiration for all of those who have become disillusioned and indifferent as far as life is concerned.
NEW OUTLOOK
Meekness gives to life a new outlook that enables people to rise up and go forth to a new plane of worthwhileness. No wonder a man stands up and says to a tired, weary world, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth!”
Later a man came along and said, “The world belongs to the industrious.” I wonder if he did not have in mind that those people who were serious about making a contribution would eventually be the people who will inherit the earth. No, it is not going to be the people who are politically ambitious. It is not going to be the people who are socially ambitious. It is not going to be the people who are economically ambitious.
The world is going to belong to those people who are moved by their spiritual, moral and intellectual convictions that they will make life worthwhile for all with whom they come in contact. The world is going to belong to those people who have gotten a vision of those things that are high and noble.
When Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek,” He meant blessed are those people who are determined to be like Me, for they shall inherit the earth. As one faces up to life he must surround himself with certain basic convictions that will stand whatever betides. Then and only then will he inherit the earth.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Meek in the OT is surpose to mean War Horse. Characters of a War Horse is that they were instantly obideint to the rider. If the rider slight nudge against the ribs would indicate for it to run, or stop to jump to gallop Etc. I am investigate this. Any help on the issue would be greaterly appreciated.