God invites us to practice the presence of people within an awareness of His presence. That is no small task, especially at this time of year.
How then can we do this? By intentionally practicing His presence first. No greater teacher can offer us insight on how to do this better than Brother Lawrence, a 16th century Carmelite from Paris. I reread The Practice of the Presence of God every couple of years to remind myself of his simple, timeless wisdom.
Here are a few of his gems for you to prayerfully consider this Christmas:
- I make it my business only to persevere in His holy presence…which I may call an actual presence of God; or, to speak better, a habitual, silent, and secret conversation of the soul with God.
- The time of business does not differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of the kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees.
- His prayer was nothing else but a sense of the presence of God.
- As for set hours of prayer, they are only a continuation of the same exercise…simple attention and passionate regard to God.
- (He) resolved to use his utmost endeavor to live in a continual sense of His presence, and, if possible never to forget Him.
Jesus said it simply: If we remain in Him, we will bear abundant fruit (i.e. not so much us holding a position, but allowing ourselves to be held). If we don’t, we won’t give anything lasting or substantial.
May we practice His presence this Christmas and, in so doing, offer our presence to those around us.
