Neighborhood Rule of Life
“Developing a Rule of Life is a way of being intentional about the personal rhythms and guidelines that shape our days. ”
Practice
Walk in your neighborhood once a week.
Walk at a time when people are out. Walk the same route at the same time. Walking helps you move at a pace to be present and notice details of place and an invitation to pray.Support a local business a once a month.
Find a neighborhood coffee shop, grocery, restaurant, dry cleaner, barber, or garden center. Being a regular creates a rhythm to build connections with people and places. Become someone who knows the workers names, who tips well, and who is curious about their life beyond work.Map your neighbors and pray for them once a month.
Write their names, work, and interests, on a map. Making a neighborhood map with names is a way to add specificity to your prayers.Welcome neighbors to your home once a year.
Host a front yard happy hour, driveway ice cream social, coffee on the corner, or holiday party. Welcoming people to your home helps move the connection beyond neighbors to being known.Connect with a local leader once a year.
Learn the names of City Council, Community Resource Officer, Service Providers, or Faith Leaders. Send them a note of encouragement. Invite them to coffee or lunch. Meeting the leaders who serve in your neighborhood is a way to know its needs from their perspective.Learn the history of your geography once a year.
Visit a nearby cemetery, museum, or library. Learning the history of your place is a way to know your neighborhood.
A Rule of Life is ancient Christian language for practices to organize your life around what you love. We all have, consciously or unconsciously, created rhythms for our life to protect what we value. Regardless of our age, gender, or personality, we all have a Rule of Life. We all have practices that shape us and form us.
The word “rule” is an English translation of a Latin phrase. The original word was “regula,” which is where we get our words “regular” or “ruler”. Many linguists offer the word “regula” was primarily used regarding a trellis in a vineyard. Henri Nouwen wrote, “A Rule offers creative boundaries within which God’s loving presence can be recognized and celebrated.”
The practices of a Rule of Life are not the focus any more than a trellis being the focus of a vineyard. No one walks through beautiful vineyard and proclaims, “That is nice trellis!” It is about the vine and the wine. The outcomes of being rooted in the love of God and neighbor is what we celebrate. A Rule of Life is not a goal to achieve, it is a guide to follow. The aim is not activity, but to create rhythms to root you more deeply. It is creating rhythms that cultivate the life you want.
A Neighborhood Rule of Life is an intentional way of arranging your days to know your neighbors and neighborhood. It is a way of being present to the sacredness of the people and place around you. These practices are to help you begin to create your own Neighborhood Rule of Life.
Recommended Reading
Explore these books to guide you in shaping a Rule of Life. From ancient practices to modern perspectives, these resources will help you create rhythms that nurture connection with God, neighbors, and your place.
