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The Rule – deeper

This is the Rule we embrace. This is the Rule we will keep: we say YES to AVAILABILITY; we say YES to VULNERABILITY.

We are called to be AVAILABLE to God and to others:

Firstly to be available to God in the cell of our own heart when we can be turned towards Him, and seek His face;
then to be available to others in a call to exercise hospitality, recognising that in welcoming others we honour and welcome the Christ Himself;
then to be available to others through participation in His care and concern for them, by praying and interceding for their situations in the power of the Holy Spirit;
then to be available for participation in mission of various kinds according to the calling and initiatives of the Spirit.

We are called to intentional, deliberate VULNERABILITY:

We embrace the vulnerability of being teachable expressed in:
a discipline of prayer;
in exposure to Scripture;
a willingness to be accountable to others in ordering our ways and our heart in order to effect change.

We embrace the responsibility of taking the heretical imperative:
by speaking out when necessary or asking awkward questions that will often upset the status quo;
by making relationships the priority, and not reputation.

We embrace the challenge to live as church without walls, living openly amongst unbelievers and other believers in a way that the life of God in ours can be seen, challenged or questioned. This will involve us building friendships outside our Christian ghettos or club-mentality, not with ulterior evangelistic motives, but because we genuinely care.

Introduction by Trevor Miller

A Rule of life is absolutely essential to any monastic life. It says ‘this is who we are, this is our story’; and it reminds us of those things God has put on our hearts, calling us back to our foundations. The idea of a Rule of life developed in Christian monastic communities, and indeed, monasteries and convents today still function under a Rule, the best-known of which is that of St Benedict, dating from the 6th century. Monastic stability is based on accountability to the Rule of life; it serves as a framework for freedom – not as a set of rules that restrict or deny life, but as a way of living out our vocation alone and together. It is rooted in Scripture, pointing always to Christ; and, in the words of St Benedict, it is ‘simply a handbook to make the very radical demands of the gospel a practical reality in daily life.’
   
‘In the developing history of monasticism each community or monastic order has had its own particular areas of strength, calling and emphasis. One may be contemplative; another may have at its heart a calling to serve the poor; another the carrying of the Gospel to people of different languages or culture-groups; another may have its strengths in spiritual direction, education or discipleship. Their Rule will reflect this emphasis and provide a basic ground in the common calling of everyone identified as part of the community. When it became time to formulate our Community Rule we tried to discern what the vows should be which would reflect the character and spirituality of the Community as it had already developed. It was as a result of this reflection that Availability and Vulnerability were to be embraced as the distinctive charisms of our Community.‘  Andy Raine

The history of the Northumbria Community is one of responding to a call we believe to be from God: a call to risky living, exploring ‘a new monasticism’ and our Rule developed out of this life already being lived. In effect it was a written response to the many people who were asking what was central to our hopes and dreams, and what were the values and emphases that reflected the character and ethos of our way for living. By a process of trial and error we found we were learning to live the questions as well as ask them: How then shall we live? Who is it that you seek? How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? Living these questions, rather than providing pat answers that effectively ended the quest, actually became lifeblood for the Community. We discovered the reality of Rowan Williams’ statement that ‘Christ indeed answers our questions; but he also questions our answers.’

This is really important to understand: our Rule is our response to these questions . It is not an answer, only a response: an exploration of a way for living rooted in liberty rather than legalism or licence.
    
‘For us, the life came before the Rule. We were living, hoping and dreaming these things before they were ever written down. So, we must focus not on the Rule, but on the things God has put on our heart. The Rule serves to remind us of these things, serves as a check, and calls us back to see if our dreams are still there. ‘It has more to do with a spiritual vision of community life, with roots continually to be rediscovered, than with a legislation document’ as The Taizé Story says in discussing their own community Rule.‘  Andy Raine
     
A Rule then is a means whereby, under God, we take responsibility for the pattern of our spiritual lives. It is a ‘measure’ rather than a ‘law’. The word ‘rule’ has bad connotations for many, implying restrictions, limitations and legalistic attitudes. But a Rule is essentially about freedom. It helps us to stay centred, bringing perspective and clarity to the way of life to which God has called us. The word derives from the Latin ‘regula’ which means ‘rhythm, regularity of pattern, a recognisable standard’ for the conduct of life. Esther De Waal has pointed out that ‘ regula’ ‘is a feminine noun which carried gentle connotations’ rather than the harsh negatives that we often associate with the phrase ‘rules and regulations’ today. We do not want to be legalistic. A Rule is an orderly way of existence but we embrace it as a way of life not as keeping a list of rules. It is a means to an end – and the end is that we might seek God with authenticity and live more effectively for Him.

‘Being bound to a Rule of life could be very restricting, but it is a voluntary and purposeful restriction. It excludes other possibilities in order to be focused on what is chosen. There are new and demanding priorities, but there is also much joy.’
Andy Raine

The word for Rule has a double root-meaning; one is that of a ‘signpost’ which has a purpose of pointing away from itself so as to inform the traveller that they are going in the right direction on their journey. It would be foolish to claim we have arrived if we are only at the signpost! We don’t stop at the Rule and venerate it. The other root-meaning is that of ‘a banister railing’ which is something that gives support as you move forward, climbing or descending on your journey.

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Why do we need a Rule?

The purpose of a Rule is to lay down working guidelines for the inner life and also provide a framework for the balanced ordering of work, leisure and social relationships. Hence a Rule of life is not only relevant to the monastic tradition: the principles can be used by anyone who is concerned about how they live their lives and they provide markers and guidelines, inspired by the Spirit, to help them on their journey towards God.

It becomes for us ‘an exterior framework for an interior journey’: a kind of scaffolding to use to build the spiritual structure of our individual life with God. It provides creative boundaries and spiritual disciplines whilst still leaving plenty of room for growth, development and flexibility. It is a railing to hold on to as we journey in our search for God, and, when we are blown off course, it is a signpost to a safe haven. It gives us a means of perception: a way of seeing so that we can attempt to handle our lives and relationships more wisely.

An illustration of the purpose of a Rule of life is to think of an analogy with our spectacles. We don’t look at our glasses, however expensive or original they are. The reason why we don’t look at them is that the whole purpose of having a pair of glasses is to look through their lenses to what we see in everyday life. It would be utter foolishness if all we did was to look at the glasses rather than look through them to what they revealed to us.

A Rule is meant to be a spur to growth. It can be likened to a stake used to hold up a plant. By providing structure and support to the plant, it enables the plant to grow quickly and healthily. In a similar way, a Rule of life provides structure and support not only to our prayer life, but to every aspect of life, enabling us to grow into the persons God wants us to be. Because of this, a Rule works best when it challenges us. It can’t be so easy that we are not stretched: but neither can it be so demanding that we have difficulty even meeting its minimum standards. Otherwise it is likely to discourage us, and therefore to defeat its own purpose. A Rule is not there to make us feel good or feel bad, but to help our individual growth in spiritual maturity. If it becomes hard to follow, becomes a burden or causes you feelings of guilt, then give it up – it is not for you.

A Rule must be appropriate. It must inspire a journey of exploration, aided by perceptive guidelines, themselves applicable to and interpretive of the real life of each traveller.
Alex Whitehead

Just as we all have habits and routines that make our lives flow that much easier, so a Rule enables us to adopt a chosen daily pattern of life helping us on our faith journey to focus and refocus on God. It is a means of recollection in which we are constantly reminded of principles that further our seeking after God.

As a geographically-dispersed Community our Rule of life is deliberately flexible and adaptable, so that it does not prescribe uniformly, but provokes individually. It describes a process whereby we each seek God alone – whoever we are, wherever we are, whatever we are – so we can each be a sign of vulnerability, a sign of availability, wherever we are as a scattered Community. Yet at the same time our life together is intentional: it is not a haphazard, ‘anything-goes’ individual interpretation. We do have a common purpose and for that reason our Rule of life is a statement reflecting our shared understanding of the principles of our life and what is necessary to maintain it. The Rule is a living instrument; a source of inspiration; and a subject of constant study, reflection and prayer. Its value and power depend on its ability to act as a lens through which we can interpret life as we experience it and as God currently leads us. 

We don’t want to box God into denominations or narrow statements of faith – we’ve seen the damage these can do. Those who feel it is of vital importance to hold a ‘pre-millennial, post-tribulationist position within a dispensationalist view of the Second Coming of Christ’’ will struggle with our deliberately flexible and adaptable Rule of Life!

We don’t want uniformity; we don’t want to become ‘established’; and we don’t want to conform tidily. We want to remain raw and ragged – because we are not a commodity to be packaged, as it were, so that somebody can say, ‘I’ve read your bumph, been there, done that, where’s the T-shirt?’

We want to emphasise that our Rule does not prescribe: it. It is descriptive rather than prescriptive – the very opposite of a uniform approach. In effect, it is saying, bring all your idiosyncrasies, prejudices and crap, all your unique experience, all your knowledge and understanding of life – bring it all to the Rule of Availability and Vulnerability. We must then learn to hold it loosely so as to make our own discoveries, coming to the realisation that there won’t always be an answer and that it’s OK to keep living those questions: How then shall we live? Who is God? Who am I? What is real?

This will lead us to a further realisation that God gives different answers to different people in different situations and circumstances. In many ways it would be so much easier to say, ’Do this’, ‘Don’t do that’, ‘Say three Hail Marys’, ‘Say two Our Fathers four times a day’;but we need broad strokes and general principles to which we can each apply our specifics – our own unique set of circumstances and relationships.

‘A Rule offers ‘creative boundaries within which God’s loving presence can be recognised and celebrated.’ It does not prescribe but invite, it does not force but guide, it does not threaten but warn, it does not instil fear but points to love. In this it is a call to freedom, freedom to love.’
Henri Nouwen

Life should have large elements of spontaneity and our approach to it should be infinitely adaptable. But the Rule provides key markers, some of which will just be temporary check-points, but others will be relevant throughout our whole lives.

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How do we use a Rule as a Way for Living?

A monastic rule not only underpins the corporate life of a community; it also provides the model for an individual Rule outside the cloister. Basically, an individual Rule consists of a set of established agreements made by an individual as promises to God regarding spiritual practice. Thus to adopt a Rule of life is to provide a structure for one’s own spiritual journey; and a good first step to take is to find a soulfriend or spiritual director who can help us apply the Rule realistically to our own individual circumstances.

A contemporary Rule must wrestle with daily life, being applicable to the good, the bad and the ugly elements in all our lives. It is not a technique or a spiritual diet but a framework that helps us step by step and in a natural way, to incorporate reminders of God’s presence into the life we already live. Repetition and association are key elements in sustaining a spiritual life. ‘The human spirit requires ritual. The stories we tell, the myths that shape us and give us meaning, need to be acted out.’ A Rule creates a structure in which we can recall God’s presence by associating that presence with common, daily things. It provides a rhythm of remembrance – punctuating our day with opportunities to refocus on God. It enables us to redeem the daily round of life – not by escaping it, but by finding the holy in the ordinary. Otherwise we will spend our lives discovering again and again the folly of believing the grass is always greener on the other side.
    
A Rule of life helps us to stay connected to God in the present moment by noticing the now – not by adding disciplines to an already busy life but by becoming conscious of God in what we are already doing. Our part is to remain available, to listen, to observe, to act, to be. This enables us to remain spiritually alive – mindful of God’s presence with us. Mindfulness is to be aware of what is going on. Live in the ‘now’: life is just the next thing that happens. The present is where we always are. ‘Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it is called the present.’

United by our Rule

Our Rule expresses a spirituality that is grounded, coming out of the hard-won experience and chaos of those who have faced some of the hard questions: How do I live with myself? How do I live with others? How do I relate to the world around me? How do I find time and space for God?

Paradoxically the Rule will send us in two directions – inward into the heart of God and on the outward journey of service in the world. Cultivating these spiritual disciplines will create the freedom to love, and enable the spiritual life to become visible. This will in turn create the space where God’s love and grace can reach us, heal us, direct us and free us to be the persons we truly are.

Our Rule is a Way for Living as ‘internal emigrés’ in the current cultural climate. First of all, we are called to Availability: to God in the cell of our own heart where we can seek Him for His own sake, as the ‘one thing necessary.’ Then to be available to others in a call to exercise hospitality, recognising that in welcoming others we honour and welcome Christ Himself. We are then called to be available to others through participation in God’s care and concern for them by praying and interceding for their situations in the power of His Holy Spirit. We are also called to be available for mission of various kinds according to the leading and initiatives of the Spirit. Then as our Rule is an ongoing exploration of ‘How then shall we live?’ it also involves an intentional Vulnerability expressed through being teachable in the discipline of prayer; through applying the wisdom of the Scriptures; and through a mutual accountability in the advocacy of soul friends. Also we live the vulnerability of embracing the ‘heretical imperative’ by challenging assumed truth; being receptive to constructive criticism; affirming that relationship matters more than reputation and by living openly among people as ‘Church without walls.’

Conclusion

This is a way for living we share even though we are scattered widely in a geographic sense. Remember we are not a residential Community but a Community of the heart. We are not a Community because of physically living close to each other (although some do) but because we live close to our chosen way of living and the vow we have all taken to be Available and Vulnerable as outlined in our Rule.
    

‘This people have been called together to be a sign and a witness, to accomplish a particular mission, which is their charism, their gift.’
Jean Vanier

 

‘We are to be a sign of vulnerability, a sign of availability, wherever we are as a scattered and dispersed Community. The Rule is a way of living out our salvation together. It reminds us of ways to live that make sense, and are in accordance with Scripture, in accordance with the ways of God and are appropriate to our task or vocation. The Rule has become our story. It is a story that needs to be lived in. It is a story that needs to be lived out, not just talked about. The Rule continues to challenge our hearts and lives, as it is immediately relevant to real living. It addresses honest questions, and touches on issues with which most of us have wrestled in various forms for many years. Through the Rule comes the gentle but insistent call of Jesus to follow Him closely.’
Andy Raine

Our calling as Christians is to be Christ-like – to be conformed to His image (see 2 Corinthians 3:18). The heart of every Rule of life and applicable to all Christians is the gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life. The goal of the Christian life is love – for God, for our neighbour, for self, for others. We are a pilgrim people on a journey of faith. As a Community we are bound together in a common vocation: to seek God and know self so as to better live with others and serve the world of our influence be it great or small.