Sabbatical - Discipline, that dirty word

I have been working on the project even if I haven't posted much of late.  Just the way there were tons of post at the beginning I think you'll see a bunch here at the end as well.

Time to talk about the elephant in the room.  In order for any of what I've talked about so far or am preparing to talk about to work you have to actually do it.  And do it regularly.  With intention.  As a matter of routine.  That's right you have show a little discipline to make it a discipline.

The problem is that for many, maybe even most of us, the word discipline means "forcing me to do things I don't really want to do" or possibly "punishment".  Well how about these definitions:

From FreeDictionary.com

1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.

2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.  

Merriam-Webster.com offers:

4 : training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character 

          6 : a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity

                                                   

 Interesting that one lists these concepts as the first and second definitions while the other pushes them way down the list and actually says that the use of the word in relation to "instruction" is obsolete.

If using the word discipline makes you uncomfortable then feel free to use something else.  What you can't lose is the concept that this is something that needs to be done.  It is important.  So whether it's a "practice", a "routine" or a "rule of life" (my favorite) it is something that needs become part of your life.  So the question becomes how do we go about doing that?  In a world where most of us already have too much to do how do we shoe horn one more thing in?

First I would suggest we take a look at all those things we do.  How many of them are necessary?  How many of value?  And how many are just trivial, silly time wasting events?  You're going to find that a bunch of things you really like are in that last category (at least if you're being honest).  Watching TV, playing video games, messing around on the computer or smartphone are just a few examples.  If you honestly do not have a single minute of your day spent in trivial pursuits then you're either in need of a long vacation or already disciplined enough to jump right in.  For the rest of us we need to do the inventory and then determine how things get moved around.

Notice I didn't say to eliminate anything.  It is quite possible that you'll decide to drop something when you take a good honest look at what you do but that's entirely up to you.  In fact by establishing your own Rule of Life you may discover that you are better able to enjoy all the things that you like doing.  Even the trivial, silly ones.

At the heart of our spirituality you will find the fingerprints of St Benedict of Nursia.  It was from his guidelines that the basic outline of the Book of Common Prayer is drawn.  Benedict was a lay person who founded several communities for monks in his native Italy.  As his communities grew Benedict saw the need to bring some routine to their lives to insure that things got taken care of and that time was available to get all the work of the community done.  While many of us think of monastic life as being very strict and rigid that really wasn't Benedict's goal.  In fact he says

"In drawing up its regulations we hope to set down nothing harsh, nothing burdensome...Do not be daunted immediately by fear and run away from the road that leads to salvation. It is bound to be narrow at the outset.  But as we progress in this way of life and in faith, we shall run on the path of God's commandments, our hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love"  (From the Prologue of "The Rule of St. Benedict")

 That sounds like a much more desirable discipline!  The purpose of  a Rule is to help us place our lives more firmly in a pattern that brings us into the presence of God.  When fully implemented we are in that presence not only in times of formal worship or prayer but always.  Everything we do becomes a part of our life in prayer, our life of prayer.

The great thing about The Rule of St. Benedict is that it's quite brief.  He puts 73 chapters into a mere 67 pages that I'm using as a reference.  And to be honest while reading all of it offers a good learning opportunity there are large sections of it that simply don't concern us.  The Sleep Arrangements of Monks (chap. 22) or The Qualifications of a Monastery Cellarer (chap. 31) can safely be skimmed or perhaps even skipped.

The discussion of a Rule needs much more room to breathe.  I'm trying to keep these posts to manageable length so let me end this one here.  I'll come back to Benedict and then show a possible new shoot growing his venerable root in my next post.

Peace