Chapter 31: The qualities required by the cellarer (paragraphs 2-3)
Among the most important qualities the cellarer needs to cultivate is humility and the ability to give a pleasant answer even when a request must be refused. Remember how scripture says that a kindly word is of greater value that a gift, however precious. (From para. 2 of Ch. 31 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry, OSB, 1997.)
St. Benedict teaches me that the spirit of service is kindness. Kindness I recognize as a fruit of the Spirit, a fruit of meditation. Kindness directs the hearts of giver and receiver into right relationship.
“Humility and the ability to give a pleasant answer. . .”: by your grace, Abba, the silence and simplicity and peace engendered by my twice-daily meditation helps to calm my hyper-reactive spirit.
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