Have you ever heard of Brother Lawrence? He was a humble French monk who lived in the seventeenth-century in a Carmelite monastery in Paris. He learned to practice the presence of God at all times in his life.
Many people were attracted to him because of his deep spiritual character. He had a reputation for possessing genuine peace. Over the years, many came to seek spiritual advice and wisdom from him.
A Christian classic is entitled, “The Practice of the Presence of God.” This wonderful book is a collection of conversations with Brother Lawrence, and letters written by him. We did a church-wide study of this book a couple of years ago. I highly recommend it to you.
Brother Lawrence prayed to the “Lord of all pots and pans.” He wrote, “The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen . . . I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.”
What a precious gift, to recognize God’s holy presence in the everyday business of life. To see God all around us.
That was the promise of Jesus. He said, “I am with you always, even until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) In the book of Hebrews we find this, “For God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.’” (Hebrews 13:5)
Perhaps today we can learn something from this humble monk who lived so long ago, and begin to see and practice the holy presence of God, regardless of where we are and what we are doing.