Rule of Life:
A "Rule of Life" is a concept that may bring to mind monks and nuns in secluded monastic communities, but non-monastic people have also taken upon themselves rules to live by since the beginning of the Faith. A Rule helps us order our lives and develop a habit of engaging the Christian Disciplines. One of the more positive aspects of living a Rule within a monastic community is that there are brothers and sisters who encourage and help us live the Rule consistently. The life of the community is built around fulfilling the Rule. Not many of us, however, have the calling or ability to take the life-long vows of a monk or nun. There are many different and good Rules that already exist. What we do does not attempt to "recreate the wheel," but to find new ways of living into a Rule of Life in our times and contexts.
In our increasingly busy and chaotic world, attempting to commit to a Rule of Life on our own is more than difficult, it is nearly impossible. Too much within our culture and society work against attempting a pattern of life that encourages persistent times of quiet stillness - essential to listening for and hearing the "still, small voice of God."
Part of the problem with living into a Rule is that it must become a habit. What the Imago Dei Society strives to do in our Communities and Residences is provide opportunities for the rest of us who are not monks or nuns to live into a Rule of Life. To be the image of God to all the people we encounter in our daily lives, we need to give ourselves with intention, with persistence, in humility and simplicity to the Christian Spiritual Disciplines. In and through them, we will be re-formed or transformed (because that is what the Holy Spirit does when we give ourselves to God for good purposes). We are re-formed out of the cultural proclivities that have embedded themselves in the patterns of life we often unconsciously follow.
The Rule of Life that we will live into as members of the Imago Dei Society will include:
Intention - The Christian Life doesn't just happen and cannot be lived into haphazardly. We don't "shop around" or "consume" concerning the Body of Christ. With intention we commit to live a Life in Christ.
Persistence - It is not at all easy to be consistent in living our lives as Christ would have them to be. This is a commitment for the long haul and must be lived into with persistence despite the constantly changing circumstances of our lives.
Humility - We admit from the beginning that we can be wrong about anything we say, profess, or do - plain and simple.
Simplicity - In a world of want and increasingly limited means and with the understanding that our quality of life is not dependent on the accumulation of material things, we commit to live simply. This is not a vow of poverty, but of a mindful simplicity.
Our Rule is designed with the thought that these spiritual disciplines can be accomplished within the regular lives of Christians everywhere and under all kinds of circumstances. It isn't easy, we know, but with the support, encouragement, and accountability offered be brothers and sisters together it can be done - God with us in all of the human condition.
Customary:
The "Customary" expresses the way we live out the Rule of Life in practical and consistent ways. A Customary is living and flexible so that the current needs and configurations of the community are best meet. In attempting to live out the Rule of Life in a holistic way, the Customary strives to give as much freedom within the positive boundaries needed for living in a peaceful and productive community.
For the individual life in community, our Customary calls us to:
Daily Office - each member commits to say the Book of Common Prayer Morning and Evening Office, with at least one of the Offices said daily in community Monday - Friday, as is possible.
Quiet Time - each member commits to take at least 1/2 hour a day for personal reading of the Holy Bible and private prayer, Monday - Friday.
Exercise - each member commits to exercising in a manner consistent with his/her abilities and that guarantees aerobic and strengthening results for a total of at least three hours a week.
Worship - each member commits to attending Sunday worship services (or Saturday evening or Sabbath observance) in a congregation of his/her choosing.
Good Works - each member commits to regular and consistent projects of Good Works to be done strictly for the benefit of others on a monthly basis.
Community - each member commits to maintain faithful relationships within the Christian community.
Spiritual Direction/Confession - each member commits to regular meetings with a qualified Spiritual Director and/or Confessor on a monthly basis.
Education - each member commits to a regular regime of formal education that challenges the mind and presumptions.
Within Imago Dei Residences and Communities, members will created a detailed plan to accomplish the Customary and Rule of Life with the Community's Formation Director. The members of the Residential Community will be present with each member to help, encourage, and hold accountable the living into the Customary and Rule of Life.
Because we are called to love one another, we seek to learn from the wisdom and the experiences of God of those who have come before us over the past two millennia.
Because we are called to love one another, we give ourselves to be made into the image of God for the sake of those we encounter in our daily lives.
Because we are called to love one another, we strive to be formed as God intends in order to pass on this wisdom and these experiences to those who will come after us.