Wednesday, September 27, 2006

The Practice of the Presence of God

Have just been reading The Practice of the Presence of God. It is about Brother Lawrence, a 17th Century monk who was constantly aware of God's presence. This bit explains how he managed to consider God in everything he did:

When he began his business, he said to God with a filial trust in Him, 'O my God, since Thou art with me, and I must now, in obedience to Thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy Presence; and to this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance. Receive all my works, and possess all my affections.' As he proceeded in his work, he continued his familiar conversation with his Maker, imploring His grace, and offering to Him all his actions.
When he had finished, he examined himself how he had discharged his duty. If he found well, he returned thanks to God. If otherwise, he asked pardon and, without being discouraged, he set his mind right again. He then continued his exercise of the presence of God as if he had never deviated from it. 'Thus,' said he, 'by rising after my falls, and by frequently renewed acts of faith and love, I am come to a state wherein it would be as difficult for me not to think of God as it was at first to accustom myself to it.'
Seeing as we're an activist organisation, it's quite easy to just get caught up in doing lots of stuff, and to become disconnected God, who initially motivated us to do these things. So I am thinking that we might find Brother Lawrence's disciplines particularly helpful.
If you want to read the book, there's an online copy here.

1 comment:

Trav said...

Go Activists! I agree with you...its very easy to do