Esther de Wall in A Life-Giving Way; A Commentary of the Rule of St. Benedict, says that “Humility makes no sense if it is regarded as an end in itself; it is a way of discipline.” This is a difficult, although welcoming, concept for me. I’d like to take on humility, get it under my belt and move on just as I do many other things in my life. But of course, faith isn’t like that; faith isn’t a task to be check off. I notice that there are no faith books in the self-help section for the book store.
Humility is probably one of my life-long issues, which is humbling in and of itself. In fact admitting that out loud is even more humbling. I have the sense that humility is about truth telling, which is about taking the mask off. This is tough work, but de Waal offers three approaches, gleaned from Benedict, which I am trying to make my own. First humility is deeply embedded in Scripture. Second, this is an interior journey, and here I quote extensively from de Waal.
· “This interior journey is a process that will never end, yet one that does not necessarily involve the familiar pattern of movement toward some successful and predetermined goal. I see the steps as indicators carrying me forward, yet as I come to each I never leave any behind, for I simultaneously need all of them all the time. Perhaps I should think more of a spiraling and never-ending inward process, a process that will go on until death.
The third is that this undertaking, this embracing of humility, must include all of me, mind, body, spirit. It must be part of everything I think, say and do. I’m reminded of Mary’s confusion when asked to bear the child of God. Luke’s gospel says that she was afraid and perplexed, and wondered, “How can this be?” It seemed more than she could bear, but bear it she did. Throughout the Gospels Mary’s inward process interfaces with Jesus’ life, which again brings me back to Scripture. A good place to begin.
Humility is probably one of my life-long issues, which is humbling in and of itself. In fact admitting that out loud is even more humbling. I have the sense that humility is about truth telling, which is about taking the mask off. This is tough work, but de Waal offers three approaches, gleaned from Benedict, which I am trying to make my own. First humility is deeply embedded in Scripture. Second, this is an interior journey, and here I quote extensively from de Waal.
· “This interior journey is a process that will never end, yet one that does not necessarily involve the familiar pattern of movement toward some successful and predetermined goal. I see the steps as indicators carrying me forward, yet as I come to each I never leave any behind, for I simultaneously need all of them all the time. Perhaps I should think more of a spiraling and never-ending inward process, a process that will go on until death.
The third is that this undertaking, this embracing of humility, must include all of me, mind, body, spirit. It must be part of everything I think, say and do. I’m reminded of Mary’s confusion when asked to bear the child of God. Luke’s gospel says that she was afraid and perplexed, and wondered, “How can this be?” It seemed more than she could bear, but bear it she did. Throughout the Gospels Mary’s inward process interfaces with Jesus’ life, which again brings me back to Scripture. A good place to begin.
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