Like what criticisms and blessings do to our spirits, the
Wemmicks of Lucado’s story gave each other dots and stars depending upon what
they were able or unable to do. Though Lucado’s clumsy main character, Punchinello,
is damaged greatly by his dots, he later learns a great deal from Lucia, a Wemmick
who is not impacted by the stickers she gets. Her reason for this is that she regularly
visits Eli, who created the Wemmick race from his workshop overlooking their
village. She encourages Punchinello to do the same and everything begins to
change for him.
As I practiced being a monk, I learned that Lucia’s quality
of humility seems to be Benedict’s highest priority. As he writes in chapter 7
of his rule, “Without a doubt, we understand . . . that we descend by pride and
ascend by humility.” Together with the monks of Westminster Abby, Lucia
ascended by humility and encouraged her friend to do the same.
