Perhaps we don't always realise we are following the 'Rule of Life'
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Earlier this week the church’s calendar had us celebrating that great Celtic saint, Columba (sometimes known as Comcille).
Many of you will already know that this sixth century Irish priest established a monastic community on the island of Iona from where Christianity was brought to much of the Scottish Highlands.
Later in history, Iona Abbey would become Benedictine, but before then, many of the monks lived by the “Rule of Life” given to them by St Columba.
The “Rule of Colmcille” can be traced back to the ninth century and, among other things, encourages monks to participate in the community, make good friends, work smartly and be generous.
The idea of a “Rule of Life” does not sit easily in the vocabulary of many people today.
But actually, we probably all have one.
There are things we do “as a rule” which keep us healthy: we eat, drink and wash. We work (in the broadest sense of the term) and we know that for the sake of our mental health we need recreation and an appropriate amount of sleep.
So, as a rule, we have our meals at regular times, we go to bed at similar times most days, and get up at a similar time most mornings.
This rule that we create does not imprison us and we can be fairly flexible with ourselves if needs be – but what it means is that we don’t have to waste energy deciding every day about things which we know are necessary to our health and well-being.
The same applies to our spiritual health, whether you ascribe to any particular faith or none.
Time for reflection about the world, our place in it and how we can make sense of what is going on is so important, especially in a time of crisis such as we are facing.
At the heart of Columba’s “Rule of Life” was order and balance, where all people from the apparently most important to the seemingly unimportant were to be treated with equal respect; where food and drink were to be provided so that no one was in want; where all tools and clothing were to be looked after, and all in the context of find God in all things.
A Rule of Life helps us to keep our balance amid all the demands made on us. It reminds us that prayer or reflection is the foundation of our whole life. For followers of faith, it is our relationship with God in action. Paying attention to our own needs for refreshment, rest, reflection and recreation will make us more available to others.
So, I encourage you to consider forming your own “Rule of Life” or maybe to explore and try out “a Rule” already set down, for a week or two and see if it makes any difference in your life.
But remember, what we do as a rule must not be a burden, but must be a framework which frees us to grow in love.
Rooted in paying attention to God, like the Celts who had a prayer for every occasion, we learn to make the connections and live every part of our lives to God’s praise and glory.
n Simon Scott, Golspie, is an assistant priest with the Scottish Episcopal Church.
