Chapter 21: The deans of the monastery
[Deans] must be selected for their suitability in character and gifts so the abbot or abbess may, without anxiety, share some responsibilities with them. For that reason they should not be chosen simply because of their order in the community but because of their upright lives and the wisdom of their teaching. (From Ch. 21 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
Benedict teaches me that discernment in delegation is an important aspect of community life. If I'm the person of responsibility in a situation, delegation may relieve me of overwork, but more importantly, it allows others to participate and grow in our mutual life. And for me, delegation may also save me from the ego-delusion of being "indispensable".
“Growing old is not for wimps,” my aging friend used to say. Now that I am into my ninth decade on the planet I begin to understand his wry sense of humor. Benedict today reminds me it is not easy to let go, to delegate: to let my wife or children drive and do the heavy lifting, to accept my dimming vision and hearing losses and all the natural diminishments of seniorhood. But doing so in and with you, with a sense of humor, makes it even enjoyable, Abba. Your love conquers all.
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