During the Renaissance, the Abbé de Beaufort and Frère Laurent de la Résurrection, known as Brother Lawrence, recorded four conversations together. There were also copies of letters Brother Lawrence wrote, as well as notes, published with these conversations in the 1690’s.  These famous “Conversations”, now published as The Practice of the Presence of God, tell an incredible story. 
 
Brother Lawrence joined the monastery in part to escape his clumsiness; he didn’t want to be the way he was. He needed to find God and to know the Lord. In the winter he saw a dormant tree. It was frozen and there was snow on the branches. As he stood there, he realized it was going to change in the spring. He knew that suddenly leaves would be growing on the branches, and He saw a vision of the mastery of God. Brother Lawrence…

Brother Lawrence’s words made me think about what we’re going through with the Corona virus.  Right now, America is like a tree which is leafless and fruitless and waiting to rise again. That’s what Brother Lawrence saw in this tree. When the Lord spoke to him, He told Brother Lawrence that His presence brings life to the tree. He felt the presence of God! He never forgot the image of that tree, or how he could feel the presence of God upon him. 
 
Here is a key about you and what you can gain in prayer everyday; and this is part of why my family and I are praying every day: You’ll find in practicing the presence of God, everything gets put together. In His presence, He fixes everything. Everything comes inline. God wants to take us into the future. He wants to show us the glory of tomorrow and all of the wonderful things that can happen. He does that through His presence.   
 
When we are hungry for God, He responds. He visits us with His presence. May the presence of God flow through you into the project you are working on! Let the love of God help you in the tasks before you. Feel the love of God pour out of you. 
 
Whatever it is the Lord wants you to do, put your whole heart, and all your attention into it. In every action you do, no matter how large or small, please the Lord. God is love. When the love of God comes though you in the work you do, no matter what type of work it is, take the task as an opportunity to please the Father. 

Sent in love, Pastor Richard Gazowksy

(quotes pictured taken directly from the texts of the Abbé de Beaufort and Frère Laurent de la Résurrection, Brother Lawrence)