A friend recently mentioned to me that the Rule of Benedict
talks about how serious a problem grumbling is. In fact, Benedict mentions murmuratio no less than twelve times as
a serious threat to the community. Moses had that problem with the Hebrews as
they made their way in the wilderness. Constantly, they murmured, complained,
about the lack of water, about food, about almost anything. Can’t you just hear the soft murmurings start
like whispers, then grow to a breeze, then almost a howling gale? It drove
Moses crazy. God didn’t like it much either.
“Grumbling works as a slowly and subconsciously working
social poison. It obscures vision, drains energy, and touches the heart. This
is true for ‘internal’ as well as ‘external’ grumbling. Those who internally
grumble and complain can no longer see clearly and listen—because another voice
is already speaking, their attention and energy is directed to something other
than what is going on at the moment, and therefore they cannot do their task
any longer ‘from the heart.’ External grumbling is even more damaging, because
it spreads like an unregulated division of cells; we call it griping for good
reason. Grumblers seek each other’s company, strengthen one another and infect
others; they act like sand and poison”[1]
in the community.
I know we have all done our share of grumbling, mumbling,
and murmuring in our lives. It is so easy to turn to the person next to us and
complain about how long the wait is, about the temperature in the room, about
how much homework the teacher gives out, about almost anything. I hate waiting
in lines, or being stuck in a crowd. The problem is that when I grumble, then I
add to the atmosphere of anxiety. How much better for me, and for everyone
around me, if I were to hold myself in silence, and pray for the people around
me, if I were to look at them with God’s eyes. For me, this would be living generously. I think I am going to
make this a part of my discipline going in to Advent.
1 Peter 4:9
Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Philippians 2:14
Do all things without murmuring and arguing.
[1]
Derkse Wil, The Rule of Benedict for
Beginners: Spirituality for Daily Life (Collegeville, Minnesota), The
Liturgical Press, 2003, p. 35.
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