The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees.
Interpretation
Inner peace can be found in any activity, whether mundane or spiritual.
This quote by Brother Lawrence expresses the idea that spiritual connection and inner tranquility can be achieved in everyday tasks, such as cooking, just as it can during formal prayer. It highlights the importance of mindfulness and the ability to maintain a sense of calm amidst life's distractions and demands.
In practice
In a speech about finding balance in life.
In order to form a habit of conversing with GOD continually, and referring all we do to Him, we must at first apply to Him with some diligence: but that after a little care we should find His love inwardly excite us to it without any difficulty.
It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.
A little lifting of the heart suffices; a little remembrance of God, one act of inward worship are prayers which, however short, are nevertheless acceptable to God.
If the vessel of our soul is still tossed with winds and storms, let us awake the Lord, who reposes in it, and He will quickly calm the sea.
We should fix ourselves firmly in the presence of God by conversing all the time with Him...we should feed our soul with a lofty conception of God and from that derive great joy in being his. We should put life in our faith. We should give ourselves utterly to God in pure abandonment, in temporal and spiritual matters alike, and find contentment in the doing of His will,whether he takes us through sufferings or consolations.
And it is not necessary to have great things to do. I turn my little omelette in the pan for the love of God.
When you know that you're capable of dealing with whatever comes, you have the only security the world has to offer.
You only have control over three things in your life-the thoughts you think, the images you visualise, & the actions you take.
I can be stressed, or tired, and I can go into a meditation and it all just flows off of me. I'll come out of it refreshed and centered and that's how I'll feel and it'll carry through the day.
If it's knowledge and wisdom you want, then seek out the company of those who do real work for an honest purpose.
Cleverness, after all, has its limitations. Its mechanical judgments and clever remarks tend to prove inaccurate with passing time, because it doesn't look very deeply into things to begin with.
He that wants money, means, and content is without three good friends.
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