Human Formation

The Church asks men preparing for the priesthood to ready themselves in four separate areas: humanly, spiritually, intellectually, and pastorally. These subheadings are largely self-explanatory. We study, we learn to pray, and then to pray better. We learn how to minister to God's people in a variety of ways. Human formation, however, becomes something of a catch-all category. Under it fall such topics as manners, grooming, personality, dress, weight, the ability to converse and a variety of other things. For me, of late, the pressing issue of human formation has been my habit of nail biting.

I have done it for years. I often do not even notice I am doing it until someone else makes mention of it. Recently, though, I decided it was time to quit. Knowing myself and my weak will, I determined that I would need assistance. For this reason, I acquired a foul little bottle of the most terrible tasting concoction I have ever encountered. I apply it to my fingernails on a daily basis. It has helped significantly, but not without its costs.

Besides having particularly shiny fingernails, the taste of this liquid gets on everything. From my fingers it transfers to my french fries, to my drinking glass, even to my lips. While I have avoided biting my nails, the dreadful stuff seems to be everywhere. Such, I guess, is the price I pay for a bad habit. I know that this small inconvenience now will preserve me from the embarrassment of gnawing on my hands in public throughout the future. Nevertheless, I am not sure I see the advantage of well manicured hands just now.