From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
February 12th - Brother Lawrence (Nicholas Herman)
Brother Lawrence (c. 1614 - February 12th, 1691) was a Carmelite monk,
who is today most commonly remembered for the closeness of his
relationship to God as recorded in the classic Christian text, =E2=80=9CThe Practice of the Presence of God.=E2=80=9D
Brother Lawrence was born Nicholas Herman in H=C3=A9rim=C3=A9nil, near Lun= =C3=A9ville
in the region of Lorraine, located in modern day eastern France. He
received a revelation of the providence and power of God at the age of
18, but it would be another six years before he joined the Discalced
Carmelite Priory in Paris. In this intervening period he fought in the
Thirty Years' War and later served as a valet.
Nicholas entered the priory in Paris as a lay brother, not having the
education necessary to become a cleric, and took the religious name,
"Lawrence of the Resurrection". He spent almost all of the rest of his
life within the walls of the priory, working in the kitchen for most
of his life and as a repairer of sandals in his later years.
Yet despite, or perhaps because of, his somewhat lowly position, his
character attracted many to him. He was known for his profound peace
and many came to seek spiritual guidance from him. The wisdom that he
passed on to them, in conversations and in letters, would later become
the basis for the book, =E2=80=9CThe Practice of the Presence of God.=E2=80= =9D This
work was compiled after Brother Lawrence died by one of those whom he
inspired, Father Joseph de Beaufort, later vicar general to the
Archbishop of Paris.
He began life as Nicholas Herman, born to peasant parents in Lorraine,
France. As a young man, his poverty forced him into joining the army,
and thus he was guaranteed meals and a small stipend. During this
period, Herman had an experience that set him on a unique spiritual
journey; it wasn't, characteristically, a supernatural vision, but a supernatural clarity into a common sight.
In the deep of winter, Herman looked at a barren tree, stripped of
leaves and fruit, waiting silently and patiently for the sure hope of
summer abundance. Gazing at the tree, Herman grasped for the first
time the extravagance of God's grace and the unfailing sovereignty of
divine providence. Like the tree, he himself was seemingly dead, but
God had life waiting for him, and the turn of seasons would bring
fullness. At that moment, he said, that leafless tree "first flashed
in upon my soul the fact of God," and a love for God that never after
ceased to burn. Sometime later, an injury forced his retirement from
the army, and after a stint as a footman, he sought a place where he
could suffer for his failures. He thus entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Paris as Brother Lawrence.
He was assigned to the monastery kitchen where, amidst the tedious
chores of cooking and cleaning at the constant bidding of his
superiors, he developed his rule of spirituality and work. In his
Maxims, Lawrence writes, "Men invent means and methods of coming at
God's love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that
love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God's presence. Yet it might be so simple. Is it not
quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love
of him?"
For Brother Lawrence, "common business," no matter how mundane or
routine, was the medium of God's love. The issue was not the
sacredness or worldly status of the task but the motivation behind it.
"Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do. . . We can
do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan
for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to
work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to
pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God."
Brother Lawrence retreated to a place in his heart where the love of
God made every detail of his life of surpassing value. "I began to
live as if there were no one save God and me in the world." Together,
God and Brother Lawrence cooked meals, ran errands, scrubbed pots, and
endured the scorn of the world.
He admitted that the path to this perfect union was not easy. He spent
years disciplining his heart and mind to yield to God's presence. "As
often as I could, I placed myself as a worshiper before him, fixing my
mind upon his holy presence, recalling it when I found it wandering
from him. This proved to be an exercise frequently painful, yet I
persisted through all difficulties."
Only when he reconciled himself to the thought that this struggle and
longing was his destiny did he find a new peace: his soul "had come to
its own home and place of rest." There he spent the rest of his 80
years, dying in relative obscurity and pain and perfect joy.
Quote:
"I walk before God simply, in faith, with humility and with love; and
I apply myself diligently to do nothing and think nothing which may
displease Him."
--Brother Lawrence
Bible Quote:
I will give glory to Thee, O Lord, O King, and I will praise Thee, O
God my Saviour.
I will give glory to Thy name: for Thou hast been a helper and
protector to me.=C2 (Ecclesiasticus 51:1-2)
<><><><>
Meditation
=C2 =C2 You should never doubt that God's spirit is always with you,
wherever you are, to keep you on the right path. God's keeping power
is never at fault, only your realization of it. You must try to
believe in God's nearness and availability of His grace. It is not a
question of whether God can provide a shelter from the storm, but of
whether or not you seek the security of that shelter. Every fear,
worry, or doubt is disloyalty to God. You must endeavor to trust God
wholly. Practice saying: "All is going to be well." Say it to yourself
until you feel it deeply.
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)