Defining Stability

In his wonderful book, Stability: How an ancient monastic practice can restore our relationships, churches, and communities, Nathan Oates defines stability as living with purpose in a particular place among a particular people.

There is so much talk about purposeful or meaningful living. And it is largely left to us to create this meaning. But we believe we were made to love God and to love our neighbors. This can be faithfully articulated in a number of ways, but it is at the heart of all of our lives.

We live out this purpose of loving God and loving our neighbor wherever we are right now. Sure, we can travel and we can create digital spaces. But the incarnation of Jesus shows us that kindness showed to the people we share the same room with matters.

God has placed us amidst the people of our community. While we live among them, we are called to pray on their behalf, meet needs, and invite them into a life of loving God and loving our neighbor.

Stability is about living with purpose in our particular place and committed to the people of that place. How can you begin cultivating stability today?