Start in Lent but not only for Lent!
Laity’s discipline: the Ebbsfleet Rule of Life
(From the Bishop of Ebbsfleet to Church Times)
Sir, — Further to your welcome feature on the spiritual discipline of the laity, your readers might care to see the Ebbsfleet Rule of Life.
It is intended to suggest positive engagement with the Christian life, and has been welcomed by those of other traditions. Its seven clauses hint at the search for perfection to which the Lord calls us, however much we fall short:
1. We attend the Eucharist and receive Holy Communion, especially on Sundays and principal feasts and holy days.
2. We study Holy Scripture regularly, especially the Gospel of the Day.
3. We take some part in Daily Prayer, whether at church or at home.
4. We practise examination of life and habits of quietness and solitude.
5. We give generously and regularly to support the work of the Church.
6. We give of our talents and our time in the service of others, mindful of our responsibilities as citizens.
7. We pray and work for justice and peace and the coming of God’s kingdom.
ANDREW EBBSFLEET
Bishop’s House, Dry Sandford
Abingdon OX13 6JP
Showing posts with label rule of life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rule of life. Show all posts
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Saturday, June 30, 2007
The Beautiful Interview
I had a dream I had an interview with God.
"Come in," God said to me. "So, you would like to interview me?"
"If you have time", I answered.
God smiled an said, "My time is called eternity and there is enough to do everything; what questions do you have in mind to ask me?".
"What's the one thing that surprises you most about mankind?"
God answered:
"That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again. That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health. that by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live neither for the present nor for the future. That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they have never lived."
God's hands took mine and we were silent. After a long period, I said, "May I ask another question? As a parent, what would you ask your children to do?"
God replied with a smile:
"To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is to let themselves be loved. To learn that it takes years to build trust, and a few seconds to destroy it. To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but whom they have in their lives. To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. There will always be others better or worse than they are. To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but one who has the least. To learn that they should control their attitudes, otherwise their attitudes will control them. To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and that it takes as many years to heal them. To learn that there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not know how to show their feelings. To learn that money can buy everything but happiness. To learn that while at times they may be entitled to be upset, that does not give them the right to upset those around them. To learn that they are masters of what they keep to themselves and slaves of what they say. To learn that they shall reap what they plant; if they plant gossip they will harvest intrigues, if they plant love they will harvest happiness. To learn that true happiness is not to achieve their goals but to learn to be satisfied with what they already achieved, or die from envy and jealousy of what they lack. To learn that two people can look at the same thing ans see something totally different. To learn that those who are honest with themselves without considering the consequences go far in life. To learn that by trying to hold on to loved ones, they very quickly push them away; and by letting go of those they love, they will be side by side for ever. To learn that even though the word 'love' has many different meanings, it loses value when it is overstated.
"Come in," God said to me. "So, you would like to interview me?"
"If you have time", I answered.
God smiled an said, "My time is called eternity and there is enough to do everything; what questions do you have in mind to ask me?".
"What's the one thing that surprises you most about mankind?"
God answered:
"That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again. That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health. that by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live neither for the present nor for the future. That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they have never lived."
God's hands took mine and we were silent. After a long period, I said, "May I ask another question? As a parent, what would you ask your children to do?"
God replied with a smile:
"To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is to let themselves be loved. To learn that it takes years to build trust, and a few seconds to destroy it. To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but whom they have in their lives. To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. There will always be others better or worse than they are. To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but one who has the least. To learn that they should control their attitudes, otherwise their attitudes will control them. To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and that it takes as many years to heal them. To learn that there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not know how to show their feelings. To learn that money can buy everything but happiness. To learn that while at times they may be entitled to be upset, that does not give them the right to upset those around them. To learn that they are masters of what they keep to themselves and slaves of what they say. To learn that they shall reap what they plant; if they plant gossip they will harvest intrigues, if they plant love they will harvest happiness. To learn that true happiness is not to achieve their goals but to learn to be satisfied with what they already achieved, or die from envy and jealousy of what they lack. To learn that two people can look at the same thing ans see something totally different. To learn that those who are honest with themselves without considering the consequences go far in life. To learn that by trying to hold on to loved ones, they very quickly push them away; and by letting go of those they love, they will be side by side for ever. To learn that even though the word 'love' has many different meanings, it loses value when it is overstated.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
My new diary
We are back home after our weekend away and I did have access to a laptop and so was able to keep up the daily blog.
A New Year means a new diary. In the past I have always had an increasingly expensive Parson's Pocket Book but more recently I have settled for a very cheap Parish Diary which I quite like, especially the pages of spirituality chosen by the parish priest. This year there is a Rule of Life recommended which I thought I would share with you today:
To remember daily my Christian calling and to fulfil it in all I do.
To pray daily and to be generous in giving time to prayer.
To worship with the Church on Sundays and greater Holy Days, especially at the Eucharist, and to receive frequently the sacrament of Holy Communion.
To be regular and methodical in Bible reading.
To increase my understanding of the Christian religion.
To give generously, according to my means, to the Church and for meeting human need.
To help the Church and those in need by personal service.
To seek and use opportunities for bringing others to Christian faith.
To be honest and just in my work and my dealings with others.
To maintain Christian standards in my personal relations.
To cultivate and encourage good standards in recreation.
A New Year means a new diary. In the past I have always had an increasingly expensive Parson's Pocket Book but more recently I have settled for a very cheap Parish Diary which I quite like, especially the pages of spirituality chosen by the parish priest. This year there is a Rule of Life recommended which I thought I would share with you today:
To remember daily my Christian calling and to fulfil it in all I do.
To pray daily and to be generous in giving time to prayer.
To worship with the Church on Sundays and greater Holy Days, especially at the Eucharist, and to receive frequently the sacrament of Holy Communion.
To be regular and methodical in Bible reading.
To increase my understanding of the Christian religion.
To give generously, according to my means, to the Church and for meeting human need.
To help the Church and those in need by personal service.
To seek and use opportunities for bringing others to Christian faith.
To be honest and just in my work and my dealings with others.
To maintain Christian standards in my personal relations.
To cultivate and encourage good standards in recreation.
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