“God has shown you what is good and what the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) 

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Benedict’s chapter on humility is the longest chapter in his Rule. Some refer to it as “the original 12 step program.”  That’s right, Benedict presents and explains the 12 steps of humility as a ladder, beginning with living in awe and reverence of God.  True humility recognizes that God is God and I am not.  I am a child of God, in my goodness as well as my sinfulness.  While I am gifted and graced, so is every person made in God’s image and likeness.  We are each unique.  Life is not a competition to do/be better than others; it is an invitation to better myself, to become the person God has called me to be, and to allow/encourage others to do the same.  Humility may also be considered as authenticity, the grace of being who we say we are. 

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Joan Chittister offers these words of wisdom: “Humble people are who they are, people with as much to give as to get, and they know it.  And because they’re at ease with themselves, they can afford to be open with others.  Humility is the ability to recognize my right place in the universe, both dust and glory.”