Living an Ordered Life
Part of my formation to become a Catholic deacon was having a formator, someone to accompany me to meet Christ in dialogue about my life, my vocation and the quality of my mission. I was fortunate to be allocated a senior Carmelite religious, Sister Katrina. And she exhorted me to ‘Live an Ordered Life’. She explained that was one of the gifts to the world of religious orders and monasteries.
Living an ordered life refers to maintaining a sense of structure, organization, and purpose in your daily activities and overall lifestyle. Here are some key aspects of living an ordered life:
Prayer & Activities Routine and Consistency: Establishing a daily prayer and activities routine provides a sense of predictability and stability. Consistency in your prayer habits and activities schedule can lead to a closer walk with Jesus, increased productivity and a reduced sense of chaos.
Self-Care: Prioritizing self-care activities, such as Christian Meditation, exercise, adequate sleep, and relaxation, is crucial for maintaining physical and mental health. Taking care of yourself enables you to better handle life's challenges. It gives you resilience.
Clear Priorities & Goal Setting: Having a clear understanding of your life’s priorities. And Setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals towards these priorities. Knowing when to say No - when distractions come your way.
Financial Management: Keeping your finances in order involves budgeting, saving, and managing debt. Financial stability contributes to overall well-being and reduces stress.
Many persons today choose to attend a retreat in a Bendictine monastery to get a hold of their life and kick start living an ordered lifestyle. The Benedictine way of life emphasizes balance between: prayer, work, study, community, and hospitality. The monks follow a strict daily schedule that includes specific times for each of these activities. The day is structured around the Liturgy of the Hours, a series of prayers that mark different parts of the day.
It is not necessary to live in a cloistered monastery to practice this, today there are many living an ‘outside the walls monastery lifestyle’. They develop, with the aid of a formator or spiritual director, an order for their day.
One of the important elements of this lifestyle is - finding time for silence and solitude. Silence is observed during certain parts of the day, fostering an environment conducive to prayer and reflection. Monks also value times of solitude, providing opportunities for individual contemplation and spiritual growth.
As part of my new diaconal ministry, we are creating a sacred space at our home as a retreat centre. Here you can come and learn how to live a more ordered, spiritual lifestyle. Email me for details.
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