Humility leads us to God. Benedict’s Rule pulls together from ancient sources the twelve steps of humility. “Humility is right thinking—truth—and to be truthful to ourselves and embody that truth is to be in right relationships with others.” (Funk, Mary Margaret, Tools Matter for Practicing the Spiritual Life, NY: Continuum, 2001.)
I’ve summarized Funk’s 12 steps, and printed them out, because I need an easy reminder to remember them, and, even just to remember that humility exists.
Step One: Be aware of thoughts
Step Two: Surrender our will
Step Three: Be accountable to another
Step Four: Carry out difficult tasks without weakening or going away.
Step Five: Manifest thoughts to a wise elder.
Step Six: Practice manual labor.
Step Seven: Consider it a blessing if one has been humiliated
Step Eight: Be content with what is.
Step Nine: Restrain talk and remain silent.
Step Ten: Laugh only when you are in the same camp.
Step Eleven: Speak strait, “as is.”
Step Twelve: Recapitulate the above directives
The fruit of humility is that, through self-forgetfulness, we abide in the presence of God.
The fruit of humility is that, through self-forgetfulness, we abide in the presence of God.
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