Job saith thus of an hypocrite: The joy of an hypocrite is as it were for a moment. If his pride rise up even to the heavens, and his head touch the clouds, at the last end he shall be cast out as a dung-heap. The joy of an hypocrite is but a point, for if he worship himself never so much, and joy in himself never so much, all his lifetime, and bepaint himself with all his good deeds, in the sight and praisings of the world, at the last it will prove right nought but sorrow and pain.(John Climacus)

I wonder about what differentiates a sense of pride from a sense of progress.

I don't want to be prideful. I want to be motivated by something beyond myself. I do not want to be self-serving.

But I do seek signs that what I am doing is productive (or not), helpful (or not),creative (or not). I am, I hope, ready for self-sacrifice. But I also seek the joy of knowing I am not just fooling myself (or others), and contributing something substantive.

Is this pride?