Ten Commandments for Mature Living

I have been slowly reading "Sacred Fire: A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity" by Ronald Rolheiser.  The first book I read by him was "The Holy Longing" which he describes as a foundational book - a Spirituality 101 course that is inteneded to help us "get our lives together and achieve an essential discipleship."

Sacred Fire is a book that address the deeper questions as we continue the journey of faith: How can we live less self-centered, more mature lives?  What constitutes deep maturity and how do we reach that place?  And what constitutes a truly mature following of Jesus?

Near the end of the book he writes about these - his ten commandments for Mature Living. (or 10 commandments for the Long Haul!)  Instead of "thou shalt not" these invitations invite us to a higher place, a deeper maturity, and a more intimate relationship with God and one another.
Here they are: 

1. Live in gratitude and thank your Creator by enjoying your life.

2. Be willing to carry more and more of life's complexities with empathy.

3. Transform jealousy, anger, bitterness, and hatred rather than give them back in kind.

4. Let suffering soften your heart rather than harden your soul.

5. Forgive - those who hurt you, your own sins, the unfairness of your life, and God for not rescuing you.

6. Bless more and curse less!

7. Live in a more radical sobriety.

8. Pray, affectively and liturgically

9. Be wide in your embrace.

10. Stand where you are supposed to be standing, and let God provide the rest.

May we all continue to grow in our faith and seek a deep and lasting intimacy with our God.