Trellis of Life
The Rule of Life was written by Saint Benedict in the sixth century as a guide for individual, autonomous communities. A rule of life is not mandatory or coercive. It is a choice for establishing a pattern that nourishes and grows us spiritually. In establishing a rule of life we must consider several ideas. Honoring this contemplative tradition, Gardener's House of Prayer offers this Trellis of Life as the pattern that we set for our daily lives:
- One commits to seeking, recognizing, and loving God in daily life.
- One accepts and uses contemplative practice, the quiet ordering of the soul through prayer.
- One commits to praxis (or intentional, regular practice of an exercise or pattern) that includes personal prayer and/or group prayer intended to discern God’s call on our lives. As we participate through prayer and study in the community of the Triune God, everyone at Gardener’s is also, in God, in community with one another.
- One gathers with others of similar mind to share a meal or an activity, with the intention of celebrating the gifts of God in our hearts and in our world. Prayer is foremost of this gathering.
- One commits to growing closer to others in the Spirit of Christ. Through praxis we grow closer to God and to others. As we grow in communion with others, we grow in faith, hope and love.
- One commits to helping others on the journey to discover the Divine.