I’m preparing talks for the The LIFT Conference this Saturday in Dallas, (There’s still room for you. Sign up now!) and I’m thinking about what is known as a Rule of Life. A Rule of Life is an intentional pattern of spiritual disciplines that provides structure and direction as we train for Christ-likeness (Spiritual Fitness). A Rule of Life should be succinct, realistic, and motivating. As I was reading about ways to develop a Rule of Life, I thought of Greg Glassman’s World Class Fitness in 100 Words.
Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. Practice and train major lifts: Deadlift, clean, squat, presses, C&J, and snatch. Similarly, master the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups, dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds. Bike, run, swim, row, etc, hard and fast. Five or six days per week mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. Regularly learn and play new sports.
This is a great example of a Rule of Life for physical fitness.
Here’s an exercise to try: Write out your version of Spiritual Fitness in 100 Words.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
For the past few years i’ve been mentoring a new monastic covenant group of college guys (alongside Randy Harris) and we’ve developed our own rule of life. It’s progressive for each new degree – that is, we have neophytes, 1st degrees, 2nd degrees, and 3rd degrees. Our rule of life and 7 core values are centered on the Sermon on the Mount.
I’ve been involved in ministry for a decade and this is by far the most useful, tangible, life giving method of discipleship that I have seen.
Excited to hear more about how the Lift conference goes.