Rule of Life

The rector of my Church has this thing about the Rule of Life. As interns we are strongly encouraged to follow a Rule of Life. It’s a major part of the Church’s teaching which has become even more prominent in lockdown.

Rule of life derives from monastic communities across the centuries and is based on morning noon and evening reflection. But today I think it’s mainly a trellis for which we can then hang the rest of our day.

I have come to really value my Rule of Life. I think it’s because I love routine, I need routine to keep me steady and functioning; while some of my mates aren’t so much a fan because they dislike routine. I've found a Rule of Life is about routine, it's about starting the day in the way you mean to go on - in the presence of God and routed in scripture.

Each morning, after a workout and getting ready, I have breakfast. I devote 30 minutes of my day to this. And it’s not just any breakfast but breakfast with the trinity. I sit with my bowl of yoghurt, fruit and seeds; with the father in another seat with his apple and cinnamon porridge; Jesus opposite me with a very hipster breakfast – maybe a fancy savoury croissant or avocado sourdough toast; and the Holy Spirit beside me with his coffee; and we have breakfast together. We chat about our days like any other family would and what we have planned. There have been moments where I feel God gives me insight into what He will do that day, or how He weeps over a child of His, other times He just wants me to tell Him about my day, and others we can sit in comfortable silence in the presence of each other. I usually speak to Jesus first and have access to Father through him.

And then it’s a 15 minute bible study of one chapter – I go through a book at a time. At the moment its Ecclesiastes and I’m loving it! On that note I have a new favourite verse – 2:3.

Followed by the daily prayer liturgy of the church of England.

These mornings can sometimes be normal and nothing particularly exciting happens. Other times He shows me visions. And other times our relationship is restored following a bad day the day before. There are times when I want to argue with them like any other family does.

And then my evening is the Examen. I sit and write down my day. I reflect on each part and think was it good or bad. Did I do it to the best of my ability? Did I see God in it? Is there anyone I need to apologise to? I think this last point is really key. Sometimes our failure to reflect affects others; apologies go left unsaid and no change occurs. I’ve found that the Examen has meant that I’m much more aware of my sins and motivated not to repeat.

I really want to encourage you to explore what a Rule of Life could look like for you. For me it’s a bible study and reflection but also sport and food and skincare routines and podcasts and all the other aspects of my day that are set. But what are you doing to ensure that there is a trellis for your day – especially in lockdown – and not just any trellis but with a foundation of time spent with God.