Chapter 7: The value of humility (paragraph 13)
The sixth step of humility for monks or nuns is to accept without complaint really wretched and inadequate conditions so that when faced with a task of any kind they would think of themselves as poor workers not worthy of consideration and repeat to God the verse of the psalm: I am of no account and lack understanding, no better than a beast in your sight. Yet I am always in your presence. (From para. 13 of Ch. 7 of Saint Benedict's Psalm, trans. by Patrick Barry OSB, 1997.)
I am nothing without God -- and yet, I am always in his presence. What changes is my fickle point of view. What is constant and redeeming is the divine energy that sustains me.
I am nothing without God -- and yet, I am always in his presence. What changes is my fickle point of view. What is constant and redeeming is the divine energy that sustains me.
“No better than a beast in your sight. . . “, but no worse, either, Abba. Your love extends to every one of your creations, including us beasts. Benedict reminds me again of Francis of Assisi’s thought-provoking Rule: “You must humbly accept not being good. . . Or thought to be good.”
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