8 Comments

It's been a while since I have thought about Brother Lawrence. Thank you for the reminder. I'm especially connecting to this line you wrote - "To Lawrence, it was a case of overcomplicating God." I don't want to be one who overcomplicates God or makes a divide between sacred/secular.

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I'm so glad you found meaning in it. Brother Lawrence is such an inspiration...a reminder to do everything for the love of God. I just got back from a Brother Lawrence-inspired jog, in fact. As I ran, I kept thinking, "Breathe in for the love of God, move forward for the love of God, notice the trees for the love of God." I used to hate jogging, but now it feels like a form of devotion.

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I have left the organized church and I am wandering in the wilderness. Thank you for these advent blessings. They nourish my soul more than you can imagine. Thank you.

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Hi Susan! I'm so glad you find this nourishing. I hope you find the whole series to be so. If you think of it, at the end, let me know which ones most resonated with you. Greg

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Greg, This is so good! Thank you for sharing your gifts of writing, creativity, thoughtfulness and love. This is a blessing to the world this Advent.

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I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Emily. Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy the rest of the series, as well.

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Excellent article! I love Brother Lawrence. When I first read The Practice of the Presence of God, I noticed that Brother Lawrence’s spiritual depth was so radical compared to his contemporaries that the editor felt the need to explain away some of his more profound remarks about the simplicity of contemplation.

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I love that you mentioned that. The irony is that, of all the mystics from that era, Brother Lawrence is probably the most easily relatable. But maybe not in the 17th century!

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