15 weeks.

So here I am, sitting on the floor of my room with a banana dipped in fudge celebrating the fact that I am done with my third year of college. I don't know what my life holds after SPU, but this summer is going to to be interesting. It's my first summer not with my family, my first summer on my own. My best friend, Meredith, is living with me and I'll be working two jobs (40-50 hours a week). I am committed to a houseboat trip at the beginning of August with my family, and a trip to Southern California to visit my boyfriend's school and SeaWorld hopefully, that will end with a roadtrip back to Seattle with my lovely friend Emily.

I was telling Meredith last night while I was doing dishes, that sometimes it hits me that my family is 200 miles away eating dinner without me every night. They are going on in their normal routine, of which I used to be a part of. Now I'm more than, but just about a tuition check a month, a visit every once and a while, a phone call for a recipe, and a housesitter. I'm not being negative, I still totally feel a part of the family, love and cherished. I'm just a different dynamic of the family now.

Anyhow, this summer I want to try to establish a "rule of life".

"A rule of life is not about observing a set of rules in order to make ourselves good and acceptable before God- that would be legalism. Rather, it is about living under a certain pattern of discipline in order to achieve ascetic proficiency." (Chan 190)

The idea is that everyone has a rule of life. It includes anything that makes up your general routine. Unfortunately most people have developed poorly prioritized rules, and I know that I am among them. My rule of life has more facebook than prayer, more food than fast, more work than rest, and more laziness than service.


A "rule of life maintains the basic orientation of our lives as Christians. As Christians, we need to fit secular work into our rule rather than the other way around... Our work comes first, and then we try to work a small religious component into a basically secular existence" (Chan 190).


"A rule of life does not mean that a great part of our time is taken up with performing religious duties. Rather, the rhythm that a good rule establishes helps us maintain our spiritual focus" (Chan 191).

Luckily this author expects us to mess up. I have three months. I'm excited to track my progress, but I'm sure it will be more of a battle than anything.

"Rules can make us or breaks us. They break us if we pursue them as ends in themselves, and they make us if we see them as a means to an end." (191)

I only hope that I can humbly approach this, and move closer towards the heart of God in this expedition.

"One indication of reaching proficiency is observing the rule without thinking too much about it. It becomes second nature. It fits like a pair of comfortable shoes."

We shall see!



Suggestions given for establishing a rule:
Daily Devotion
Cultivating Spiritual Friendship
Participation in the life and worship of the church
Social Inovlement
Prayer

Suggestions for suggested practices:
Follow your bodies rhythm. Don't try to make yourself into a morning person if you aren't.
Be realistic.
Devise a plan that fits with your normal routine
Be flexible in the beginning, persevere once you find your rhythm
Simplicity


"A rule should be such that it is invariably kept without strain but occasionally make a definite demand on the will. It would should normally be kept with no fault occasionally, a few faults frequently, and if it all goes to pieces very rarely there is little worry about." (Thornton)

For my rule of life I know I want to push for more prayer. I always feel so refreshed after I pray, but for some reason prayer is like Ritz crackers for me. They don't ever sound good, but once I have a bite I eat the whole box.

I also want to incorporate daily reading into my life. I think too much. I need God's Word in my head, and I need the community of other believers via their writing to accompany in my spiritual journey.

I really want to join a community group, and start serving as well.

I also really want to exercise and eat well.........

So now that most of this is NOT in my regular routine, I suppose I have some prayerful consideration to undergo. I plan to start next Monday, giving me 15 weeks of summer to do this.

Your prayer and encouragement is welcome (:

Blessings,

Chelsea