If you ask my opinion, simplicity is not a character quality Americans cultivate well. We are a media centered people who live in a world where we don’t have time to cook a meal, spend time with our families or intentionally give our attention to others, heck I just wish I had time to read more often. Needless to say we do very well at overcommitting and under-prioritizing. Sometimes I get the impression that simplicity is not a worthy quality to place our effort, maybe because it seems or feels unproductive. I can appreciate Evelyn Underhill’s emphasis on the theme of simplicity, not the simplicity that might be defined as "stupid", but the kind of simplicity that detaches from unhealthy habits and attaches to meaningful & life giving rhythms. Human beings have complicated Christianity, yet the mystics have a lesson for the Church to help simplify our lives with Christ, that is: The Rule of Life. At about the age of thirty, Underhill was introduced to a Catholic named, Baron Friedrich von Hugel. Though he found Underhill to be deeply spiritual, she didn’t have a grounding for this spirituality and it was this backdrop that Von Hugel decided to become her spiritual director. This relationship not only pointed Underhill toward a Christ-centered spirituality, but one could argue that it was Jesus who used Von Hugel to engage the misguided Underhill to true relationship with God. In the short time, that Von Hugel had with her, he shared a very simplistic way to approach Jesus and to nourish the spiritual life. This simple way was Von Hugel’s rule of life, which she adopted for herself. A rule of life is a disciplined approach to a set of values that give the environment for spiritual growth. Let me be clear, these values are not magical formulas to maturity, they are a disciplines that aid in simplifying life and falling in love with Jesus. Examples of some rules are found in these three monastic orders: The Carmelites focused on serving Jesus with a pure heart and a good conscience. The Benedictine Order: Stability, Conversion of Life, Obedience and the Franciscans Order: Chastity, Poverty and Obedience. This simplicity is quite refreshing in light of our family, social and ministry commitments. Von Hugel, in his spiritual counsel to Underhill, encouraged three rules for one’s spiritual life. The first rule was found in Prayer. Certainly prayer, in its depths, lifts souls up together and exposes our interconnectedness and our bearing with one another, yet it included an even more important quality. Prayer in the form of adoration, the purest form of loving Jesus. Prayer for Underhill didn’t just mean the usual hands folded and head bowed, but it meant a life in communion with God. The second rule included devotional reading. There was an assumption that Scripture would be engaged, but beyond that, the encouragement was to read at least fifteen minutes of devotional classics (ie. “Imitation of Christ”). In doing this, von Hugel believed that these readings fed the heart and fortified the will. This was simply engaging God with the spiritual mentors of the past. The Last rule was the theme of Worship. It is no coincidence that Underhill wrote books on all three of these points: “Life as Prayer”; “Christian Mystics of the Church”; and her classic on “Worship”. This last point, worship, was a balance to the criticism of the “individualism” of the mystics. Worship really included the corporate aspect of being with and celebrating with the Church as the body of Christ. What we will see is the influence of von Hugel in Underhill’s own directing of the saints as well as her personal transformation through the simplicity of the Rule of Life. Later in Underhill’s life she had a full life of pioneering contemplative retreats and spiritually directing others, she established a prayer group that sought to learn deep theology, but balance spiritual devotion to Christ. This group of women asked Underhill to set up a rule of life for this group and she did: “I. At least twenty minutes each day to be spent in prayer and Bible reading. II. It is hoped that all who can do so will receive Holy Communion every Sunday; and in any event not less than once a month. III. A solid religious book to be kept in hand and read for not less than one hour each week. this may be the life or works of a Saint, a book on the philosophy of religion, prayer, the spiritual life, etc. A list of suitable books will be provided. IV. Self-discipline is an essential part of the Christian life. So we must have in our Rule some acts of deliberate self-denial; restricting small luxuries or pleasures such as sweets, novels or cigarettes on Fridays and in Lent, living as simply as we can and giving a proportion of our money in charity, and of our time in acts of kindness.” “The Fruits of the Spirit” Evelyn Underhill p. 44 In similar fashion, Underhill directed a letter to an individual also encouraging the development of a rule of life for simplicity: “I think you ought to have a very simple and unexacting rule for your devotional life; so as to get some order into it, but without worry and strain. Waking early as you do, I think you could at least spend 10-15 minutes with God either waiting silently on Him, praying or adoring, reviewing in His presence the duties, etc., of the coming day, or reading and brooding upon a psalm or a passage in Thomas a Kempis. Also in the last quarter- or half-hour of your afternoon rest, you could do this or read a devotional book. I think you would gain by getting familiar with the psalms, making a list of those that help your prayer and using one at least each day. Psalms 25, 27, 42,63,51,103,116,130,139,145,148 for instance; 134 is a nice bed-time psalm! Read a little of the New Testament every day.” “Letters of Evelyn Underhill”, Evelyn Underhill, 272-273 In both of these examples, the influence of Von Hugel is found in the life of Underhill, but specifically what I love as I read the letters of Underhill, is a real sense that she lived by the rule of life herself. She often spoke of the spiritual inadequacy that she felt and the desire to know and love Jesus more in her letters. This is in fact why the rule of life or the setting of one’s life in order is an important discipline to consider living by. The rule of life is an intentional way to live and love Christ daily. Early on, Von Hugel found that Underhill was too concerned about her own soul condition and lacked the disciplines in Christ, as a result Underhill shares the rule of life that she lived by and became life-giving to her relationship with Jesus: “Invisible religion shall be the touchstone for all external practices, which should in the long run steady and feed it. Those that disturb it to be discarded. Get gently interested in the poor. Two afternoons weekly to be given to this and take priority of everything else except strictly family duties. This work must be entered into and persevered with, with the object of developing more homely and human religious dispositions: and the spirit derived from it spread over the whole week. Aim at a reasonable devotedness as well as devotion with sufficient variety and no feverishness: above all much self-oblivion: dropping introspection and thoughts of self and turning to thoughts and acts for others; humble aspirations to God.” “Collected Papers of Evelyn Underhill” by Lucy Menzies pp. 16-17 What a lesson for the Church. The Rule of LIfe is a discipline to simplicity in Christ and we would do well to listen to the mystics and for that matter, Evelyn Underhill because we are in desperate need to clear the clutter. Do you want Jesus only? Consider these reflective questions: 1) Would you develop a Rule of Life by focusing on three areas that will enhance your relationship with Jesus? 2) Would you consider a spiritual director to help you see things in your life that you don’t necessarily see yourself? 3) Would you consider the book of Psalms for devotional reading for the next 6 months? Journal about it? 4) For more understanding of Baron Von Hugel's spiritual direction with Underhill and the rule of life that she lived by, read "Evelyn Underhill" by Margaret Cropper, read the chapter on "The Choosing of a Spiritual Director". * All Excerpts are from the following: “The Fruits of the Spirit” Evelyn Underhill “The Spiritual Life” Evelyn Underhill “The Collected Papers of Evelyn Underhill” Lucie Menzies “The Evelyn Underhill Reader” Thomas S. Kepler “The Letters of Evelyn Underhill” Evelyn Underhill “Spiritual Counsel and Letters of Baron Friedrich von Hugel” Douglas V. Steere |
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