rhythm of life

Wow, most of my recent posts & reflections have been all about spiritual life & formation. I guess that is where my head and heart is these days! I'll try and mix it up soon. But, in the meantime....

I was just going through some books beginning to prepare some material on developing a rhythm or rule of life. "A rule of life is a pattern of spiritual disciplines that provides structure and direction for growth in holiness...It is meant to help establish a rhythm of daily living, a basic order within which new freedoms can grow. A rule of life, like a trellis, curbs our tendency to wander and supports our frail effort to grow spiritually....A rule of life allows us to cultivate and deepen this growing likeness [to Christ]. It fosters gifts of the Spirit in personal life and human community, helping to form us into the persons God intends us to be."

If this above quote from Marjorie Thompson sparks your interest, check out her book, Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Spiritual Life. It discusses prayer, worship, fasting, self-examination, and hospitality and gives helpful instruction on how to develop and nurture these practices in our daily life. Another similar book is God Space: Time for Peace in the Rhythms of Life (previous title Sacred Rhythms) by Christine Sine.