Episcopal Relief & Development’s 2025 LENTEN Meditation Journey . . . A COMMONPLACE Lent

This is the advice from one who loves you; welcome it and faithfully put it into practice. —The Rule of Benedict, Prologue

At our diocesan camp, we have many practices but only one rule. This is our Rule of Life, which articulates how we intentionally seek to connect with God, others, ourselves and creation through words, actions and attitudes. On the first night of each summer camp session, before we review each section, we take the time to explain the idea of a Rule of Life, particularly as it applies to our common life at camp. We begin by explaining that we use the word rule to mean something like to regulate or to have regular habits. Next, we often share this example: “Our rule of life is like a set of bumpers on a bowling alley but for our community. They are simply a set of practices to help us all stay on the path of Jesus, caring for one another, ourselves and our place with generous helpings of mercy and grace, no matter how exhausted or frustrated we get with each other.”

The truth is that everyone at camp—from campers and guests to leaders and volunteers—struggles to stay on the path of love when living, working and resting in such close quarters. This is why we need to regularly practice the guides of the Rule, individually and together, to build up our spiritual and relational muscles. Like a musician practicing scales again and again, we must practice preferring one another, choosing one another, forgiving one another and blessing one another, not just once, but daily, moment by moment.

For REFLECTION:

Do you have a Rule of Life? Does your family or church? How could having a Rule change the common life of one of your communities?

Click here to read the introduction to the 2025 Lenten Meditation “A Commonplace Lent.”

The Lenten Meditations prepared by Episcopal Relief & Development invite readers to deepen their spiritual practice during the season of Lent, the time of preparation leading to Easter. Our 2025 meditations explore the idea of “A Commonplace Lent.” This concept reflects Episcopal Relief & Development’s tagline: “Working Together for Lasting Change.” We share in common the work of advancing lasting change in communities impacted by injustice, poverty, disaster and climate change.

We also share in common spiritual practices that strengthen our faith—prayer, worship, love, grace, service and so much more. The author explores another meaning of common in the  meditations: finding God in the common and ordinary as well as in the extraordinary mountain-top moments. Each day begins with wisdom from desert mothers and fathers, monastics and other spiritual leaders who offer insight into our common path of faithful discipleship and service. Each meditation concludes with a question for deeper reflection.

Episcopal Relief & Development is the compassionate response of The Episcopal Church to human suffering in the world. Hearing God’s call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being, Episcopal Relief & Development serves to bring together the generosity of Episcopalians and others with the needs of the world.

This Lenten Meditation Journey is provided courtesy of Episcopal Relief & Development and was authored by Jerusalem Jackson Greer, co-executive director and agrarian minister for the Procter Center, an Episcopal farm, camp and retreat center in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio. As former manager of evangelism and discipleship for The Episcopal Church under Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, she co-founded the Good News Garden movement and oversaw Way of Love and Evangelism initiatives for the wider church.