Week 1 Day 3: Relationships
Week 1: Rule of Life & Rhythm of Nature
Workbook Exercise: Other Garden Plots
Watch: Week 1 Day 3: Relationships
How could a Rule of Life be helpful to you right now?
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Transcript of Video:
Now when you hear “Rule of Life” part of you may say, “Oh, I can’t deal with one more rule.” But we want you to think again. “Rule,” as in Rule of Life, comes from the Latin regula, from which we get our word “ruler.” And having a Rule of Life is a way of sizing up and getting the right kind of measurement and proportions, the right kind of model, the template, for you to live a life that allows you to be fully and freely alive.
In the monastic tradition, Rules of Life have come into being for two reasons. One is because life is so precious and it’s also fleeting. We don’t know how long we will be alive. We do know that we only have today to live today; there will not be another day like this. And so having a Rule of Life allows you to attend to what is most important in life as you steward the life that God has given you.
In monastic tradition, the other reason why Rules of Life have figured in so importantly is so that you don’t live your life regretfully, with lots of “should” or “I only wish that…” or “I really need to…” But to front-load what your priorities are in life by having a Rule. If you were to think, “Well, how would I begin thinking about a Rule?”, think about it in terms of relationships – how you relate to yourself, how you relate to others, how you relate to God. How do you relate to yourself, body, mind, spirit? What do you do to stimulate your mind and body? What do you do to recreate your mind, your body? What do you do with money? Think about it also in terms of relationships with others – with other people, with family and friends, neighbors, co-workers, people whom you choose to relate to, people whom you cannot avoid relating to. What about people who get under your skin in not a good way? What about your enemies? Also think about others in terms of creation – the created order that surrounds us, things big and small, air and water, the creatures that fill the earth. And then think about your relationship with God. Jesus promised that he would be with us always. So how is it that you practice the presence of God as you navigate your way through the day?
I think of a Rule of Life as like a nozzle that you would put on a hose. That nozzle will give the water that’s coming from the hose direction and focus to hit the target, whatever that may be, rather than the water just flaying out all over the place. In that way a Rule can really bring you focus in life. I would say if you are going to start working on a Rule, do it in pencil. Try out some ideas, sleep on them, and then try them out, not just for a day, and not even just for a week, but try them out for a few weeks, what you’ve got in your Rule of Life.
Something else that is really helpful, perhaps from the get-go but certainly along the way, is invite someone who knows you and loves you, whom you trust, someone who says their prayers, to take a look at your Rule. What do they see in it? What’s present and what’s missing? I think you would find that helpful.
– Br. Curtis Almquist
A Rule of Life would help me be more in time with myself; which in turn would help me be more in tune with God,y family and friends plus when I’m helping with various church functions. Also believe a Rule of Life would help me notice how close my walk with the Lord is and if I need to spend more or less time in reflection of how God is working in my daily life.
The metaphor for my life has been this: a cork on an ocean. Pounded by waves, capsized, sent hither and thither by the vagaries of time and tide with no real sense of direction.
I sense that a rule of life would turn me into a boat with a tiller, a sail, an anchor. It would steer my life, direct me me on the right path and hold me fast when circumstance would blow me in another direction.
It would sail me toward God.
A Rule of Life in my current day to day grind, would help me take my mind from the things I think I need to be doing to being in the present moment where I can sense God’s direction for my life. Lately, I get the notion; that I need to be doing something perhaps more productive; then comes the nudges of uncertainty. Wondering where do I fit into the grand scheme of life and am I up to the challenge.
A Rule of Life would help me be more disciplined on a daily basis, so that I take a moments throughout each day spending time with God. Showing up for life and God, so I can truly allow God to fill my empty reservoir with His immense love and grace. I want to be able to spread God’s love to others and the only way myself or others can do that is if we first let God love on us, accept His love, and then allow the Holy Spirit to nudge us in the right direction to be that love to others as Jesus Christ intended us to be.
It will give me an overview of what I have done and needs more life blood to be better. I can know where I will be spiritually given the grace of God soon.
As I approach a new phase in my life, even the formulation of a Rule of Life is an exercise that opens my heart and mind and soul to discern the next steps of my life journey. So even thinking about a Rule of Life is helpful to me in this way right now.
I’m a bit of a rebel – I don’t like rules. Outwardly i look like the perfect person with everything going for me. But God knows the truth. Perhaps I try to find little ways to buck authority because my mother was so strict and abusive.
I think God led me to this series to show me that rules are good – especially if I make them for myself. Maybe he will use this process to heal me of those horrors of my childhood.
As a GPS guides us to a location we are seeking I think of a Rule of Life as a tool to help me keep on the right direction to living a holy life to please my Lord and Savior and to grow closer to Him in our relationship.
I am beginning to see that developing a Rule of Life for me is like finding my “true north.” As a sheep, I tend to wander, I lose my way easily. It is in my wandering that I often get confused and discouraged. A Rule of Life can help me find my path back home, to myself and with God. It will help me to know where my healthy rhythms are. I need this desperately and everyday.
Thank you for this video series. I find a rule of life particularly helpful in terms of relationality – with self, others, creation and God – to maximize grace and compassion and minimize regrets. I wish I had had one earlier!
The metaphor of the nozzle extends a thought from a precious reflection……we are conduits of God’s love….I must focus that love to help others and to cleanse myself.
I liked the metaphor of the hose with a nozzle. I do need focus and structure. My best intentions don’t always get fulfilled as far as my prayer life goes.
The suggestion to focus on my relationship to myself, others and other things in creation, and mostly importantly on my relationship to God is very helpful. It is easy to overbalance my focus on one area, to the possible neglect of the other areas, and I wish to have balance among all these areas as I live each day as a gift from God. The area that I need the most focus and prayerful attention to is relationships with others, especially those closest to me. If I am willing to work on it, a rule of life will help me do my part, with God’s help.
It seems to me that creating and following a Rule of Life will provide a structure for taking stock, for considering how I am really living and relating, considering also what values are important to me, and how can/will I express these in my life – most especially in my relationship with God, but also with my family, friends and neighbours.
I need a Rule to give me direction, to ground my work and to help me grow with God. Life is precious, but I struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts. I am angry and snappy most of the time. And yet, this is not who I am and this is not what God is calling me to be.
While struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, I hope that you are seeing your primary care physician and a mental health counselor or a therapist. I also hope that you are attending a support group comprised of people with similar issues. The health professionals and the support group (+informal supports) are gifts and tools of our God in bringing you a kind of health free from depression and suicidal thoughts.
This is something I need my track record with relationships, work, and how I take care of myself have been chaotic at best I need focus I’m hoping this will help me prioritize and a framework to go forward.
I need a rule for better life balance, fortitude, better intimacy with God. I want to follow it and share it with others. I think it will simplify my life and make life go more smoothly.
I’ve lived by a Rule for years – since 1993. It’s supported me in keeping a simplicity and harmony in my work. I’ve also hidden behind it from acknowledging that the harmony was no longer internal. Now, I rebuild. It’s not our Rule that failed me, it’s those little understandings and assumptions about it. I must grow more of a structure than our Rule and this seemed timely as I’m under spiritual direction to rebuild.
I’m been forced to go through a lot of changes in the last several years, and spent too much time reacting. I’m hoping a rule of life will help me bring some control to my reactions and allow me to do so with more thought and grace.
I believe that not enough people practice rules. That the rules of life do not apply to them. So a rule for me would be to stay away from them. I even do not want to pray for them because what ever good they may have is smaller than a mustard seed.
I liked the image of the nozzle you put on a hose. I had to develop a Rule of Life last year at a conference, and in doing so, realized that I needed to prune some things out of my life–good things, but having too many good things to do has left me scattered all over the place. Rules of Life can be like that too–if the rule is too scattered and complicated by too many good ideas and plans, the rule can end up creating more scattering than focus.
A Rule of Life for me will be helpful in getting me focused on God and let Him control my life; because by myself I haven’t done a good job of it.
Often unconsciously, I am giving in to fear. I trust God’s protection in so many areas, but the lectures and comments remind me that I am still in such fear in so many other areas of my life-am I worthy? Am I smart enough? Am I a good person? Am I liked? My worldly experience has caused me to be reticent in participating fully in community, of being myself and showing myself. This is all due to fear of people. And yet, I desire community, I desire to be liked. I want my confidence in the lessons my life can teach others so I can share myself and let others in. God is great, but people are the scariest things in the world. That is giving more power to humans than to God in my life. A rule of life will state my intention to trust God that the gift I have been given is enough, and worthy to share with humanity.
I am 76 years old, in good health, and have wonderful family, friends and church. My mother lived to be 101 and I watched her love God, herself and her neighbor right up to her last breath. I am aware that some people in this later stage of life lose meaning and purpose, while others, like my mother, share love in beautiful ways. Such a rule (commitment/promise) will help me be all that God wants me to be.
that’s so beautiful!
I think a Rule of Life would help me to have more balance in life with mind, body, and spirit. I think it would help me to be intentionally closer to God and take better care of my body which as they say is a temple. Being closer to God will help me in my other goals as I generally have a very close relationship with God, it has just separated a bit with all the static of life’s interruptions.
A rule of life would be very helpful for me. I have this deep yearning inside to be closer to God and a rule of life would certainly give me the support I need to make that relationship stronger and more a part of my life throughout the day.
Linda, I resonate with what you have said. Thank you.
For me, a Rule of Life is a way of entering into a state of healing. I have reached a point where I see myself looking at, what feels like, a lot of broken pieces and shattered hopes and dreams. I long to offer myself, my soul, my life, the support it needs to get back in touch with the source of all good things.
Healing-that resonates so perfectly with me! I am broken and I have pragmatically stuffed those broken pieces into isolation, leaving me alone in a sea of humanity, and lonelier than ever. I am an introvert by nature, so this feeds on itself. Thank you for the word-healing.
I’ve a Republican Representative in Congress to whom I often write, and more often lately, Tweet. He often rails against regulation. One time I imagined a busy intersection unregulated — without traffic lights. Gridlock. Or a situation where the bully gets ahead — the monster truck driving on top of that gridlock to get through. (And associations with Ayn Randian ubermensch). If I don’t set aside time to do certain things, they never get done. The things left waiting at the red light, on the main artery, will get their turn. That traffic never does seem to subside, letting the side street traffic through. Stilling that urgency of the ordinary as it waits it turn is one of the issues in taking time to — most of all I think of taking time to read. To do what I’m doing right now.
I am most grounded and creative when there is structure and regularity in my personal and my professional life, yet I do not have that same structure in my spiritual life, in my relationship with God. I want to know that groundedness and creativity in my spiritual life and believe I can obtain both through a rule of life.
Renewing my rule of life would help me to reorder how I spend my time and to re-balance on what I’m spend my time and energy. It seems I spend more time on work and less time in prayer and quiet meditation. I schedule my workouts but I am not as intentional with scheduling time with my family and friends. In reflecting on it more fully this exercise will also help me to discern what I might do for creative expression.
Sounds familiar – may we both succeed!
For me a rule of life helps me be centered and open to God’s in dwelling spirit in my life and in the life of those around me. While on retreat I had real sense of intentionally letting go of all the stuff that I tend to hold onto and that interferes with my relationship with God and with others. A rule of life reminds me that I am loved by God and that I am God’s creation.
I am trying to get the things I do in life ranked in order of a godly importance. I mean to say, “what can I best do with that with which God has endowed me for myself and for others?” I want to feel at the end of it that I have spent what I have been given well. I want to feel that the integrity into which I make my life is ethical, moral and godly. I know we have prayed that we would like to have a godly righteous and sober life. For me I would like my Not to be too sober, that is I want a life excited by joy in what I am doing.
Hello Roderick, I believe that is what God would want to. There is Much Joy in his presence, not a worldly joy. I just know you can have a Joy filled experience with the lord as you spend what you have been given well – In his presence is the fullness of joy. Grace and peace, abby
Six months ago, I invited a controlled demolition into my life. While still figuring out the new way of being, I had an uninvited earthquake. Very few structures are sill intact. What a great opportunity to rebuild with an actual plan!
A rule of life will help me to focus on the blessings in my life and identify actions I can take to foster healthy and loving relationships.