Photo from Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com. Some rights reserved.

One of my sabbatical projects is to develop a Rule of Life—a set of principles and practices that will guide me, that will under-gird the busyness of life with a holy rhythm and a focus on Christ.

You won’t be surprised to know that I’ve also been spending significant time these past weeks reading, writing, and talking about how and why to include sexual minorities in Mennonite churches.

So imagine my delight when I learned today that Martin Luther King Jr. developed a Rule. It was a Rule for himself and a Rule that those who wished to join him in his efforts toward justice were expected to adopt as well.

King’s Rule is published in the book Soul Feast by Marjorie Thompson, and the rules are reprinted on various blogs and web sites around the internet. It strikes me that this Rule is one we would all do well to adopt. It is particularly relevant for pacifist Christians seeking GLBT inclusion in the churches:

• Meditate daily on the teachings and life of Jesus.
• Remember always that the nonviolent movement in Birmingham [or the GLBT inclusion movement in the church] seeks justice and reconciliation, not victory.
• Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love.
• Pray daily to be used by God in order that all might be free.
• Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.
• Seek to perform regular service for others and the world.
• Refrain from violence of fist, tongue, or heart.
• Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.

What do you think? Have any of the listed spiritual practices been helpful in your own life? Which part of the Rule would be most difficult for you to follow? What step can you take to follow Christ more faithfully in the coming days?