rule IV: peace

i will seek to live a life of peace. to be a voice of love, compassion, reconciliation and forgiveness.
i will take 5 deep breaths whenever i feel like i am losing control.
i will seek to forgive myself and others.


almighty god, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through jesus christ our lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the holy spirit, one god, now and for ever. amen.

lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy;

lord, grant that i may seek rather
to comfort than to be comforted,
to understand than to be understood,
to love than to be loved.
for it is in giving that we receive,
in forgiving that we are forgiven,
and in dying that we are born to eternal life.

- prayer of st. francis of assisi

rule III: prayer

i will create a rhythm of prayer in my life by praying the divine office.

• morning
• afternoon
• evening
• at close of day

i will not beat myself up when i fail to meet this standard because of my lack of self-discipline and consistency. and i will seek to actually be honest with myself and god.

rule II: abstinence and fasting

i will create regular days of silence and fasting for myself and molly. with the realization that it is about god's doing and my being there, on these days of silence i will:

• abstain from food
• focus on the gospels if any reading is done
• abstain from talking
• abstain from trying to figure it all out
• focus on communion
• focus on others

"keep your love for food in check and you will find it easier to control all inclinations of the flesh.
- thomas a kempis, the imitation of christ

rule I: daily life

in my daily life i will seek simplicity. outward and inward.

outward simplicity ::

• simplify wardrobe
• get rid of the physical clutter
• honestly asses needs vs. wants
• spend time doing nothing

inward simplicity ::

if god gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? what i'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to god's giving. people who don't know god and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both god and how he works. steep your life in god-reality, god-initiative, god-provisions. don't worry about missing out. you'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.
- matt. 6.30-33, the message