April 19, 2005 11:40 AM
Practicing the Presence
Julana's last comment about Brother Lawrence was just what I needed to hear. I even pulled out a copy of Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room to remind myself what I'd already written:
More and more, my prayer life became not just a compartment of my life, but part of me. From the early days praying in the laundry room, to the discovery of what it meant to get real with God, I realized that the limiting factor for my prayer life was only me – and the thoughts that cluttered my mind. I could choose to pray anywhere, anytime, while doing anything. All I had to do was turn my thoughts to God.I’ve since discovered that this revelation – though very spontaneous and personal – was not unique. Some years ago, I came across a slim volume called The Practice of the Presence of God, a book that can be read in an hour which offers a lifetime of change.
In it, I found described what I as a busy mother had grabbed onto as a spiritual survival technique, described by a 17th century French monk, Brother Lawrence, who taught himself to respond to God’s presence at all times.
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."
And so we moms too busy for quiet time and prayer closets may find good company in this gentle soul. Housework doesn’t have to be something which keeps us from prayer but something which brings us to prayer.
And it isn’t just housework, it’s whatever, wherever, whenever. So instead of listening to the radio, I can instead tune in to God. As Brother Lawrence says, "Lift up your heart to Him ... the least little remembrance will always be acceptable to Him. You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we are aware of."
Posted in Inspiration | Permalink
Comments
Right on, Barbara! Thanks for the reminder. That book is easily read, but slowly digested.
The daily tasks/role of moms have been on my mind lately, as well. Just yesterday I told a friend how accepting the fact that I have to do dishes, laundry, etc. is a matter of submission to that's just the way it is. "Gasp," go the women who fought for getting mom out of the house. I appreciate the opportunities for different careers, yet somebody has to care for the home!
Sorry about the tangent, I'm new to blogging, so I still need to learn the finer points.
Thanks for your site.
Posted by: Lexie | April 19, 2005 12:20 PM
Sometimes I think those concrete manual tasks keep us in touch with reality, in a society that's moving too fast toward virtual. I've seen a quote (attributed to Einstein?), "God is in the details." Maybe housekeeping details attain a kind of sacramental value, when you do them with (God-consciousness) the really big picture in mind. Paying attention to the visible, like a good poet (like Luci Shaw), you start to sense the invisible.
Posted by: Jschutt | April 21, 2005 9:13 PM
Great post! I read and loved this little book some years ago. You can read it online here: http://userpages.aug.com/~alight/thepresenceofgod.html
Posted by: Kathleen Popa | April 22, 2005 7:23 AM
You are wise on both topics of prayer and living life well. This was an encouragment to me.
Thank you
Wayne M.
http://qandablog.typepad.com
Posted by: qandablogger | April 22, 2005 7:24 AM
