Will I? Will You?
The Rule of Life, Week 1
by Andrea Lingle

For the next several months, we will be looking at our Rule of Life. A Rule of Life is a set of intentional practices that an individual or group adopts as a guide for living.

Missional Wisdom Foundation has a lovely Rule of Life.

Five years ago, my husband, Luke, participated in “Launch and Lead.” 

Launch and Lead is a two year non-degree program that provides laity and clergy with the theological foundation and practical skills needed for starting and leading micro-communities of contemplative prayer and missional action.

That, my friends, is right off the webpage.

A few months into the program, he “start[ed] and [led] a micro-communi[y].”[1] I went. Luke asked me to read Longing for Spring by Dr. Elaine Heath and Scott Kisker. I did. He began leading us through the steps to form a Rule of Life. I didn’t.

Even now, I can’t look this concept in the face. It’s not because I am an anarchist. I am pretty sure I’m not.

About twenty years ago, I went hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. The place where we were hiking crossed a rocky bald where there were patches of sensitive lichen. A helpful sign instructed hikers to follow a trail of yellow painted dots to minimize the ecological impact of hundreds of booted feet. After a few minutes of ambulatory dot-to-dot, we sat down to look at the view. My mother, always aware of her children, had seen my careful attempts to minimize my lichen-impact, and teasingly asked if I was sitting on a dot.

I was sitting on two.

I am not an anarchist, but I feel all of your rules twice. So, if I take on a new set of rules, I will not do so lightly.

Here we are. On a journey toward wisdom. Our first theme focused on the structure of discipleship: community, love, and generosity banded by intention. No problem. Our second theme explored grace which is my love language. The intersection between the mystical and the ordinary is the salt of my thoughts. Tasty, tasty business.

But it is the power of three to awaken us and set our feet on the path.

So I ask you. Will you join me, reluctantly, to consider the virtue of a rule. Let us agree between ourselves that we will not allow the voice of grace to be silenced. Let us remember that we must do this together.

I am not sure either. It seems risky.

Come, let’s see.

Invitation to Missional Mindfulness:

• What is your orientation to rules?

• What are the rules of life you follow?

The Missional Wisdom Foundation Rule of Life

We hope you are enjoying our study of the Missional Wisdom Foundation Rule of Life. This is our last week to focus on The Rule. This way of life continually blesses us in many ways and we hope that you, our Dispersed Community, have been able to share in that blessing. If you would like a very nice, framable copy of the MWF Rule of Life, you can find several options in our Merchandise Store.