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<DIV>"I appreciate what someone has called Brother Lawrence's methodless method.
It's refreshing to hear him say, writing to a nun, 'Do not burden yourself with
rules of private devotions (but) get used to gradually offering God your heart
whenever you can.'</DIV>
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<P>"Brother Lawrence writes that, finally, 'I gave up all devotions and prayers
that were not required and I devoted myself exclusively to remaining always in
his holy presence.'</P>
<P>"Let me quote him further:</P>
<P>"'The holiest, most ordinary and most necessary practice of the spiritual
life is that of the presence of God. It is to take delight in and become
accustomed to his divine company, speaking humbly and conversing lovingly with
him at all times, in every moment, without rule or measure, especially in times
of temptation, suffering, aridity, weariness, even infidelity and sin.'</P>
<P>"This is the man who spoke of doing everything as an act of worship--even
picking up a straw off the floor--as something done for God. 'I possess God as
peacefully,' he said, 'in the commotion of my kitchen, where, often enough,
several people are asking me for different things at the same time, as I do when
kneeling before the sacrament.' He said if we can learn to do everything we do
as a conscious act for God, in the presence of God and for God's sake, perhaps
it will become easier for us to cultivate an ongoing conversation, 'speaking
humbly and conversing lovingly with him at all times.' I think this is precisely
what Paul meant when he said, "Pray without ceasing.'"</P></DIV>
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<DIV>By the late Rev. Dr. Robert M. Holmes, a United Methodist minister in
Montana, July 29, 2001</DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=4><A
href="http://day1.org/612-the_ongoing_conversation">http://day1.org/612-the_ongoing_conversation</A></FONT></DIV>
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