I will set out to explore the Rule of St. Benedict in the context of monastic life, both as it was lived in the time of St. Benedict, and as it is lived out today. This will require visits to Benedictine communities with which I am already familiar, as well as some communities with which I am not yet visited. I will spend time interviewing monks and nuns from the Benedictine tradition about their reading of the Rule and how it functions in their contexts. I will further develop the four themes discussed above, and refine or add more themes as necessary, using methods developed within the field of phenomenology.

I will conduct interviews (in-person or over Skype) with families with whom I am familiar, to see how the above themes play out in their daily lives. I will spend time writing about how these themes can be incorporated into family l life, utilizing a variety of learning styles and spiritual practices. This work will primarily take place through my own research and experiences as a spiritual director, parent, and chaplain.

The Benedictine tradition does not come without its controversies and critiques, so another goal will be to see how the practice of communal religious life in a more general sense can be utilized in developing a spirituality of family and home. I am even open to exploring religious life within other traditions, and outside of the Christian tradition, as sources for spiritual wisdom.

The end goal is to have a resource that will be both helpful and informative for families, which focuses on practical applications from my research. I imagine that parents, grandparents, pastors, and Christian Education/Youth Ministry professionals will find this resource helpful in their important work in the church and in society. I would seek to work with my current publisher, or another publisher, to print my research in book form.