Driven to Humility

Last updated on: December 26, 2014 at 9:16 pm by Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB

Driven to Humility 2014-12-26T21:16:45-05:00 Margaret Rose Realy, Obl. OSB

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The audience had applauded with enthusiasm after the presenter’s slide show. The gardening program left the attendees buzzing and eager to put into practice what they had learned. With skill the presenter pulled questions from the boisterous crowd and interjected humor in her answers.

She was a renowned horticulturalist and landscape designer, and everyone knew it. She wrote for several magazines, web sites, presented at local universities, and at nearly every major garden event in five states. People clamored over everything that came forth from her mouth… garden related or otherwise. No denying, she knew her stuff and shared it.

A good thing that is, too. We who’ve attended her workshops learned about tools and techniques—and silly ways to fool the passerby’s—for our gardens. Afterglow conversations were full of her insights on growing, grooming, and progression of the landscape into a thing of beauty.

With gardens and farming—and in industries—we follow what’s called “best practice.” Farmers rotate crops or harvest before rains. Gardeners practice “right plant right place” and avoid planting sun-loving plants in shaded woodlands. There are established ways of doing things that have proven beneficial to proper and productive growth. Ms. Horticulturalist knows these rules well, and shares them eagerly from personal experience.

Moving forward in proper and productive ways is to look at the application of “best practices” to a situation.

In the Rule of St. Benedict one practice is humility, and progression at this can be painfully slow. Like seeds sluggish to germinate—some taking six weeks as Bell’s of Ireland do—there’s a chance that they’ll not come up at all if growing practices were not properly addressed.

This past week a reminder of the practice of humility, or rather lack thereof, made its rounds again on the Internet. It is a list by St. Josemaria. The interdependence of each shortcoming is apparent—and uncomfortably convicting.

Thinking that what you do or say is better than what others do or say

Always wanting to get your own way

Arguing when you are not right or — when you are — insisting stubbornly or with bad manners

Giving your opinion without being asked for it, when charity does not demand you to do so

Despising the point of view of others

Not being aware that all the gifts and qualities you have are on loan

Not acknowledging that you are unworthy of all honour or esteem, even the ground you are treading on or the things you own

Mentioning yourself as an example in conversation

Speaking badly about yourself, so that they may form a good opinion of you, or contradict you

Making excuses when rebuked

Hiding some humiliating faults from your director, so that he may not lose the good opinion he has of you

Hearing praise with satisfaction, or being glad that others have spoken well of you

Being hurt that others are held in greater esteem than you

Refusing to carry out menial tasks

Seeking or wanting to be singled out

Letting drop words of self-praise in conversation, or words that might show your honesty, your wit or skill, your professional prestige

Being ashamed of not having certain possessions

This is another of those lists, like the Fasting From used at Lent, which needs to be printed and taped to the mirror.

St. Josemaria, pray for us!

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