What rules you?

At Home in the World

A Rule of Life for the Rest of Us

Margaret Guenther

Religion and spirituality have perplexed me ever since high school when questions started popping into my head. Judy and I have looked in many places to find spiritual satisfaction. One recent detour in this direction has been an investigation into a local Benedictine Way group. We joined the group long after they found their own rhythm for the meetings and understanding of the Rule of St. Benedict. Part of the agenda for each meeting was a study of Margaret Guenther's book, At Home in the World.

The book is a fast and friendly read. Margaret is a wonderful combination of grandmother and priest. What could be better for someone on a quest? Who can't ask grandma what the deal is?

Loosely based on the Rule of St. Benedict, Margaret reminisces about her long and successful life, finding the lessons that have general application to most of us. An example that hit home for me is the sometimes oppressive solitude of an airport concourse, crowded with hundreds of people after a flight cancellation. Powerless. Herded. Alone. Alone in the crowd. This can be a productive time, a time for meditation, reflection, people watching, letter writing, or phone calls to a friend or family member who needs a call. Many of her life lessons are along these lines. There is goodness everywhere, at any time. It is our job to find that goodness and happiness.

What to do with this fast and friendly read about how to find happiness and satisfaction in life? What is the goodness I found in the book?

There are a couple of famous rules for monastic behaviour. The Rule of St. Benedict is probably the most familiar. But what about the rest of us? Are there rules for us? Margaret gives us a starting point. I take it as a starting point.

After thinking about this book for some time, it occurs to me that I have lived by many rules for years. The rules have come to me from books, parents, friends, magazines ... just about everywhere. A couple of them are ..

• Look them in the eye. If you can't remember their eye color you haven't connected.
• I can control the Now, not yesterday or tomorrow.
• Now that you've shared that, what would you like me to do when I get back to my desk?
  

So what? I'm back at my desk, having decided that a rule is not necessarily bad. How many rules have I been living under? Three dozen came to mind yesterday when I came home from the Benedictine group meeting. More pop into my head today.

And what do they mean? Why do I need to look someone in the eye? What does it mean to remember their eye color? My left brain keeps asking the right, just like a six year old child. "Why?"

This is starting to feel like another New Year's resolution, similar to the resolution to start this blog on what books I've read. Watch this space. More is boiling just under the surface.

And what's the next book? It could be The Third Jesus or Innovation Nation. We'll see how the spirit moves me. You have a vote, too.