Jen Pollock Michel Offers Modern Guidance on Creating a Rule of Life

In her book A Rule for the Rest of Us, author Jen Pollock Michel provides a contemporary framework for believers to establish a personal rule of life. Drawing on the historical wisdom of Benedict of Nursia, Michel addresses the modern struggle with distraction and the tendency to wander aimlessly between fleeting experiences. She suggests that by intentionally naming one's priorities, Christians can better cultivate the character necessary to live a life centered on God.

Michel’s teaching contrasts the modern believer’s scattered lifestyle with Benedict’s warnings against the “gyrovagues,” who wander without direction, and the “Sarabaites,” who seek only echo chambers of affirmation. To counter these tendencies, she encourages readers to move beyond self-directed pursuits and instead embrace a structured approach to prayer and community. The book serves as a practical guide for those seeking to prioritize truth and service to the Lord over the pursuit of shallow pleasures in an increasingly disordered world.