Justin Whitmel Earley

The pace and general setup of American life tends to rub me the wrong way when I really sit down and think about it. The Common Rule takes a look at some of the aspects of this, then lays out a plan for creating new habits to foster a lifestyle more in line with Christian convictions without abandoning the positive aspects of modern American life. The author shares intensely personal stories about implementing these habits and their impact on his life, which makes the book easier to read and not at all dry. At the end of each section is a breakdown of the habit discussed, simple examples of how to put it into practice, and a few references for further consideration.

The Verdict -

I find The Common Rule to be very useful and refreshing. It has a solid Christian foundation, but rather than harping on the basics, the author grows from this foundation. The analogy of a trellis is interwoven throughout the book, and it makes a lot of sense. You have to build a support system for good habits to grow on; The Common Rule provides practical suggestions for doing so. Somewhat surprisingly, this is my first five-star read of 2021.… (mere)

Every Christian couple (children or not) need to read this book. Yes, it is a wonderful foundation for those who have children in establishing practices, liturgical practices, and God at the center. But honestly, the book tackles marriage habits, screen time habits, .....so practical for all seasons of life.

It is also a book where it did not say things like "you need to ban all screen time" or "You need to do ____". It encourages taking it all back to the cross and asking for his guidance. And what that looks like for your family. I found that wonderful because let's face it, I have Audrey watch some TV; Scott and I watch TV. But there are boundaries and that is good.

Seriously, I'm buying this book and doing another read. And I've already passed on my recommendation to someone else!… (mere)

I always enjoy thoughtful books on spiritual discipline. This is is a wonderful one. Firstly, the eight habits the author promoted already scored high points in my mind the moment I first glanced at the table of contents. (By the way, the eight habits he laid out are: 1. Kneeling prayer daily at morning, midday and bedtime; 2. One daily meal with others; 3. One hour with phone off every day; 4. Scripture before phone every morning; 5. One hour of conversation with a friend weekly; 6. Curate media to a set length of time, such as four hours, every week, 7. Fast from something for 24 hours weekly; 8. Keep a weekly Sabbath, on a day that works for you.)

The author was a lawyer and a workaholic. He had a breakdown due to the stress at work and at home with two young children, which moved him to start pursuing better spiritual habits. So the type of habits he proposed are all tailored to a person who naturally gravitates to work :D I am totally not that type of person, so I'm not as persuaded of pursuing some of these habits as another person would have been. But the author made such a thoughtful, honest, and beautiful case for each of the habits, that I feel enlightened on my understanding of the gospel, human nature, the relationship between God and man...and many other things after reading his chapters on why those habits were meaningful to him. Some favorite quotes:

" To fully understand habits you must think of habits as liturgies. A liturgy is a pattern of words or actions repeated regularly as a way of worship.....My life was an ode of worship to omniscience, omnipresence, and limitlessness."

" What if the good life doesn’t come from having the ability to do what we want but from having the ability to do what we were made for? What if true freedom comes from choosing the right limitations, not avoiding all limitations? .... I decided limits were a better way of life, and that’s when everything changed. "

" Work is the place where I realize how much I am made to be like God and, at the very same time, how much I am not God.....God is different parts blue-collar worker, artist, inventor, tinkerer, gardener, and entrepreneur, in all cases working with his hands, getting dirty, and calling this creative act good."

" Once you know who you are in God, you can turn to the world in love. But if you don’t, you’ll turn to the world looking for love. So much of our identity hinges on this ordering."

" How do we create a life of friendship when we have neither the courage nor the time to talk? The answer is to practice courage and prioritize time. We need the courage to be vulnerable in a world that is sacred, and we need to make it a priority to take time in a world that is distracted."

" In the Bible, fasting is not just to reveal and clarify our own need for God. It is to lean into the suffering of the world itself and to long for God to redeem it."

" Our soul need more than to do nothing; they need to do restful things. "
… (mere)