One of my favorite movie scenes happens during “A Man for All Seasons” when Richard Rich comes to his friend Sir Thomas More and asks for a job.
Rich, young and ambitious, desires to be a part of England’s political world like Chancellor More, and he hopes that his friend will get him in the door. Instead, the saint challenges him to be a teacher.
“If I was, who would know it?” asks Rich.
“You. Your pupils. Your friends. God. Not a bad public, that…”
This poignant interchange very simply and profoundly speaks to those of us living in a world obsessed with being seen. Even when we make a conscious effort to set limits around our phones and our social media engagement, it is hard not to breathe in the air of “influencers.”
It seems easy to create content, garner a following, and then excitedly wait as the likes and subscribes roll in… I often wonder what’s at the root of this trend, and - while there are many reasons to which we can point - I imagine that being acknowledged… loved, even… is one of them.
Here’s where “The Practice of the Presence of God” enters the scene.
Authored by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, a 17th-century Discalced Carmelite, this short work compiles a series of conversations, letters, and spiritual maxims which encourage people to “practice the presence of God.”
Over 300 years later, this little gem continues to encourage us in this practice, and - perhaps more than ever - it is just what we need in an influencer-obsessed world.
Here are three reasons why:
1) It’s simple.
Brother Lawrence says,
“The presence of God is the application of our mind to God, or a recollection of God as present. It can be performed either by the imagination or by the understanding.”
He goes on to describe this practice using a handful of names:
It’s “a simple act”, “a clear and distinct knowledge of God”, “a vague or general and loving gaze upon God”, “a remembrance of God”, “attention to God”, “silent conversation with God”, “trust in God”, or “the life and peace of the soul.”
To practice the presence of God is not to add one more devotion to the spiritual to-do list; it’s to be present to the God who is already present to us - everywhere and always.
2) It’s for everyone.
The Carmelite brother, sought out because of his holy reputation, writes to men and women, priests, religious, and laypeople. His instruction and advice were applicable then and continue to be applicable now to - quite literally - all walks of life. Whether you are washing the dishes and folding the laundry, preparing homilies and leading retreats, or creating slide decks and submitting expense reports, Brother Lawrence is writing to you.
3) It’s satisfying.
While some Christian practices aim to achieve certain goals in one’s spiritual life (ie, become more disciplined, enter more easily into the contemplative state, grow in one’s knowledge of the writings of the saints), this practice is simply an end in itself: be with God because He loves you.
Brother Lawrence reminds us that we don’t have to work our way to His love; He loves us already, and we can rest in that love more and more, from now until eternity. Some are called to be heads of state, and some are called to achieve great things through social media influence.
All of us, however, are loved and seen by God; He is our audience, our affirming like-er, and enthusiastic subscriber.
He invites us, in turn, to consume His content… to be filled with His presence, His peace, and His joy and to allow Him to influence us such that our lives may be truly fulfilling. Given all the audiences we might gather before us, God is not a bad one to have.
Starting June 8, my brother, Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P., and I will read “The Practice of the Presence of God” and offer commentary on Ascension's Catholics Classics Podcast, available on the Ascension app and the Catholic Classics YouTube Channel.