Practice the Presence
I could easily have dismissed it as out-of-date advice. To begin with, the author, Brother Lawrence, was born in 1614. Talk about a generation gap. And he was not even an American, but French. But the book’s title alone gave me pause. It didn’t hurt that Pope Leo named this book as the one that most deeply shaped his personal spiritual life. And Matthew Kelly is offering a hardcover anniversary edition. I purchase my paperback copy through a major online retailer. The $5.99 price was the final push I needed to see for myself what The Practice of the Presence of God was all about.
Even if you don’t choose to read this 127-page spiritual classic, just thinking about the title alone provides much food for thought. The core message of the book includes
Constant Awareness: Turning everyday chores, work, and challenges into quiet, continuous conversations and little acts of love for God.
A Simple and Arduous Path: This journey requires constant small acts of praise, prayer, and adoration, paired with self-discipline and inner purification.
Total Abandonment: Giving one’s life completely to the Lord and trusting Him to lead through every circumstance.
Sounds easy when you say it fast! It is quite a commitment, but I am claiming/hoping that, with a little effort, the rewards will far outweigh the effort involved.
A week ago, Mike and I spent four days exploring Yellowstone and parts of the Grand Teton National Parks. Talk about easily finding the presence of God in the beauty of His creation! My soul was constantly singing How great thou art. How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! Who am I that the Lord of all the earth would care to know my name?
The day before we flew home, we attended Mass at Holy Rosary Church in Bozeman, Montana. Father Leo expanded on the “who do you say I am” Gospel theme and commented, “When you learn about Jesus you will know Jesus. Learning about Him will help guide us in developing a personal relationship with the Lord.”
We learn about Jesus through prayer, the witness of the saints and of course through Sacred Scripture. But we are called to take that knowledge a step further by imprinting Jesus on our hearts so our words and actions can be transformed by His presence within us.
The success of any relationship depends on being fully present and talking with others frequently. I need to learn about the other and reveal myself in return. This calls for trust and vulnerability on my part. Do I acknowledge the most important relationship in my life – God and me – and apply this principal?
With my words and by my actions throughout the day, am I frequently saying “Welcome in, Lord. Make yourself at home?” What are some phrases you could use to help practice His presence in your life? A few I have adopted include, Here I am, Lord. I come to do your will. I thank you and I praise you, my Lord and my God. Be with me now. In addition, do I acknowledge and welcome His presence in others by responding with patience and empathy, love and kindness?
When we feel stuck or hit a stumbling block in our relationship with Jesus, remember He has provided us with a wonderful coach and counselor—the Holy Spirit. Ask often for the gifts of wisdom and guidance as you practice His presence in your life.
