On Living a Beautiful Life

Wilderness Journals #1

A series by Sarah Yardley

On Living a Beautiful Life A short reflection on living a beautiful life inspired by St. Benedict’s Rule of Life.

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To God be the glory.

I am a Californian based in Cornwall who loves Jesus, family and friends, feasting and travel,, long walks and deep conversations. I have lived in the UK since 2014 as a full-time missionary with Creation Fest UK to celebrate and share the good news of the God who loves us. I wrote a short book called More> Change, write for Lectio 365 with 247 Prayer, and pray as a Canon of Truro Cathedral. I love discovering what it means to follow Jesus and inviting others to know and follow Him. Gifts enable me to continue to live with generosity in my community, writing, and calling to share the love of Jesus.

Sarah Yardley

A Rule of Life

Ask anyone; we want to live a beautiful life. And yet we find ourselves caught in rhythms of the mundane, everyday stresses, practical work, nagging insecurities, the ordinary.

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On Living a Beautiful Life Ask anyone; we want to live a beautiful life. And yet we find ourselves caught in rhythms of the mundane, everyday stresses, practical work, nagging insecurities, the ordinary. Prayer is the activity that most moves my life into beauty. It allows me to breathe deep, to centre my soul, to be the one not in charge of the universe, to reorient my perspective, to listen. I used to pray by talking at God, and while I still do that, prayer is walking, weeping, waiting, kneeling, laughing, listening. In short, prayer is presently a much more active experience than in my younger years.

Recently, I visited a Benedictine monastery in Austria. Melk Abbey was founded in 1089 (let that sink in, almost one thousand years ago), consecrated as a place of prayer when a king donated one of his castles to a group of monks. Her rooms are full; ancient books, classic art, the bones of a catacomb saint, the longest existing Benedictine monastery in the world. The views are stunning, overlooking the Danube, but the place carries a sweetness in the air I have found only in places marked by years of ceaseless prayer.

GLORY TO GOD IN EVERYTHING St. Benedict is best known for creating a “Rule of Life”, a pattern that enabled him to bring “glory to God in everything.” I have operated under a rule of life for the past five or so years, but recently realised that this language is foreign to many of my wider community. So, a few thoughts for anyone who might be interested in creating their own rule of life.

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On Rules of Life First, a rule of life is not about rules.

To my readers who are mothers, I can think

This

is

an

particularly

important,

for

those

of

necessary

disclaimer,

of no better example than the words of

us

the

Rolheiser:

from

more

evangelical traditions of Christian faith. We are free, and have considered ourselves so very free that

“For years, while she is raising small children, her

anything that might constrain us hints of legalism

time is not her own, her own needs have to be

and old systems. A rule of life has been for me a

put into second place, and every time she turns

healthy

to

around some hand is reaching out demanding

consecrate and commit my heart and actions to the

something. Years of this will mature most

life of faith. Like any relationship guided by love, the

anyone. It is because of this that she does not

boundaries are only an invitation to a committed

need, during this time, to pray for an hour a day.

freedom.

And it is precisely because of this that the rest of

constraining,

a

naming,

a

space

us, who do not have constant contact with small

Second, a rule of life should be customised.

As a single woman, I can maintain a fairly intensely disciplined schedule of spiritual rhythms. My time is not bound by children, partner, or the commitments

children, need to pray privately daily.”*

Third, “A rule of life seeks to respond to two questions: Who do I want to be? How do I want to live?”**

of so many of my friends. In any area, comparison is the thief of joy, and a rule of life can be a framework

These are two of the primary questions of

for joy, but must by customised to the realistic stage

our whole lives, and they should be both clear

of life and time commitments available to you. Read

and complex. In clarity, the aim is that a rule

a few examples (see below), but choose your own

of life is clear. I am committed to a life of

rule of life.

prayer, invitation, and love. At the same time, a rule of life is complex; my current version includes six categories with three current and three growth areas in each category.

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On Rules of Life The Benedictine rule of life is clear: it calls its

A rule of life is cultivated over time as we

followers to pray and work. It is also complex; 73

begin to pay attention to the dance of grace

chapters on the “basic monastic virtues of humility,

in our own hearts and the way we discover

silence, and obedience as well as directives for daily

more of Jesus; in prayer, Scripture, rest, play,

living. The Rule prescribes times for common prayer,

work,

meditative reading, and manual work; it legislates

become the trellis from which life can grow in

for the details of common living such as clothing,

new and unexpected ways.

and

community.

Let

these

ideas

sleeping arrangements, food and drink, care of the sick, reception of guests, recruitment of new

Finally, be creative. Draw, write, pray, dance,

members, journeys away from the monastery,

craft your rule of life in a way that awakens

etc.”*** Some of these might be too involved for the

your soul to the poetry of life with Jesus.

average

a

Who do you want to be? How do you want

missional leader, I’ve found the guidelines both

to live? Answering these questions and

practical and helpful.

naming

21st

century

human,

although

as

the

shape

of

our

hearts

in

companionship with Jesus should only, ever

Fourth, a rule of life should be developed with Christ, in community, and with care.

If you decide to create one, go gently. Start by writing down a few of your current spiritual rhythms.

Where do you want to grow? What are you longing for? How are you already shaping your life around the person of Jesus? Where is the Spirit prompting you. Write, pray, journal, and allow your own rule of life begin to take shape. Share it with those who know you well. They may be able to name areas of growth and stretch your thinking.

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be a joy.

PERSONAL RULE OF LIFE Sarah Yardley’s personal rule of life, last updated May 2023

Community Close spiritual friendships Friendship evangelism Honest conversations

Prayer Daily conversation Walking with Jesus Quick to repent

Commit to grow in: Boldness Expecting salvation Developing mentors

Commit to grow in: Intercession Warfare Prophetic Prayer

Study Deeper understanding of Scripture Teachable spirit Grow in wisdom

Scripture Read daily Grow in wisdom Read in community

Commit to grow in: Reading widely Intentional time Writing regularly

Commit to grow in: Study of God’s Word Wrestling with questions Spiritual writing

Generous Give time Give meals Give kindness

Presence Led by the Spirit Close to the Father Loved by Jesus

Commit to grow in: Developing income streams Expecting the overflow Sacrificial generosity

Commit to grow in: Time with Jesus Tenderness Priority of presence

Committed to live a life of: Prayer Invitation Love

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GO DEEPER Rule of Life Podcast John Mark Comer hosts a podcast series on the way whether you know it or not, you already have a Rule of Life.

You already have rhythms by which you map your days and live. But is this rule working for you or against you? https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/rule-of-life/ He also offers a fantastic workbook on this here: https://practicingthewayarchives.org/unhurrying-with-a-rule-of-life/workbook Why a rule of life? OMS gives a short, written outline here: https://www.orderofthemustardseed.com/about/rule-of-life/ Rule of Life Worksheet from Pete Scazzero https://www.emotionallyhealthy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/RULE-OF-LIFE-WORKBOOK.pdf Garden Church: prayer, Scripture, worship. Watch a teaching series on rules of life as a simple path for radical discipleship.

Pattern Offers a set of daily and weekly rhythms; daily commit to Scripture, prayer, mind, body, heart and neighbour.

Weekly commit to come, belong, serve, and give.

Rule of Life — Pattern Rule of Life Generator A Beginners’ Guide to a Rule of Life https://www.thesabbathlife.com/practices/beginners-guide-rule-life

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READING & COMMUNITIES Further Reading The Benedict Option by Ron Dreher The Domestic Monastery by Ronald Rolheiser Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero Praying like Monks, Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton The Rule of Life by St. Benedict The Way of St. Benedict by Rowan Williams

Communities 247 Prayer https://www.24-7prayer.com

Leadership Transformations https://www.leadershiptransformations.org/

The Order of St. Benedict https://osb.org

Soul Care https://www.soulcare.com/

Footnotes *Ron Rolheiser, https://ronrolheiser.com/thedomestic-monastery/ *Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton, p. 147 **Order of St. Benedict, https://osb.org/our-roots/therule/

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CONNECT Stay in touch at: sarahyardley.com sarahyardley.substack.com Socials: Instagram: @sarahyardley Twitter: @yardleysarah Facebook: @sarahyardley

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To God be the glory.