Pressing On With the Virtue of Humility at Work, continued
Our Stability Project continues with St. Benedict's "Degrees of Humility" as laid out in his Rule. Last time we discussed the fourth degree of humility. Today we'll combine some of the next few degrees. Again, our intention is to ground our work in the Rule of St. Benedict. Our hope is that by so grounding our daily labors in the expert guidance this masterwork provides we will foster stability in our workplace.
Last time we got creative in order to apply the fifth degree of humility to us non-monks working here in the "outside" world. But the 6th and 7th degrees shouldn't require such creativity - unless you're a bit full of yourself.
6th: "...that a monk be content with the meanest and worst of everything, and esteem himself, in regard to the work that is given him, as a bad and unworthy workman..."
7th: "that he should not only in
his speech declare himself lower and of less account than all others,
but should in his own inmost heart believe it, humbling himself and
saying with the prophet: But I am a worm and no man, a byword to all
men and the laughing-stock of the people.(Psalm 21); I have been lifted
up only to be humbled and confounded (Psalm 87)...It is good for me
that thou hast humbled me, that I may learn thy commandments. (Psalm
118)
Since these two are related, we'll cover them both in our remarks.
First, you can see why being full of yourself won't work with these. Being full of yourself and being humble don't mix. Should be obvious.
But what about those of us who want to demonstrate that we're doing a good job - you know, to be sure those who evaluate us for the purpose of raises or promotions take notice of our superior work? After all, it can be considered a matter of prudence or justice to see to it that our work - if it is indeed excellent - is rewarded appropriately. Fair enough, but this doesn't mean we must demonstrate our competence or superior skills by puffing out our chests. We can simply focus on provable results, on numbers or other measurements that show our effectiveness in performing our job up to and exceeding whatever the relevant standard. That way we keep our "self" out of it and focus on what we've done, not who we are.
Circling back to St. Benedict's language, though, simply not puffing up our chest doesn't quit meet meet the standards set in degrees six and seven. Let's re-read and consider. First, six:
..."be content with the meanest and worst of everything, and esteem himself, in regard to the work that is given to him, as a bad and unworthy workman."
Looks like the extreme opposite of being a self-promoter or strutting around like a peacock. Indeed, we're taking ourselves quite a few pegs from the exalted perch of the peacock. But that's OK. If we take seriously the idea that all good comes from God (and it does, right), then we attribute our excellent results and (we hope) rewards to Him. There's no need to pat ourselves on the back. Indeed many - if not most - of us, if we honestly take a good look in the mirror, may have no trouble at all with the assessment that we're the bad and unworthy workman.
As for us unworthy workman being content with the meanest and worst of everything, that's kicking it up another notch. It doesn't mean we ought not seek a better situation for ourselves if we've got the skills and ambition. But if we're in a situation where that's not possible, we don't complain.
Now seven:
"that he should not only in
his speech declare himself lower and of less account than all others,
but should in his own inmost heart believe it..."
This flies directly in the face of a culture that can't get enough of self-esteem, self-affirmation, and their tawdry cousin, self-promotion. If you've worked for and with folks who've drunk the kook-aid here and haven't drunk it yourself, you might find such folks somewhat unpleasant to be around. But does that mean you walk around telling everyone how meek and humble you are? I don't think so.
Rather, you start by not talking about yourself. You could even be honestly self-deprecating on occasion. Just be honest and not manipulative here. You're trying to put people at ease, not make them think more highly of you.
However you practice this seventh degree of humility, the key is that in your "inmost heart" you believe that you are indeed lower and of less account than others. It's easier to do this if you remind yourself that most, if not all of us, could make this assessment more easily and quickly if we spent a few minutes contemplating the example the saints - never mind Our Lord - have given us.
We'll continue with St. Benedict's Degrees of Humility next time...
We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee,
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