Be mindful today of what you’re doing. Even the smallest tasks can be for the good of the world, for the building of God’s kingdom or reign in the world. A Caremlite monk in Paris during the 1600s, known as Brother Lawrence, wrote about living for God and living with God in all quotidian moments. His vision of faith was not once of static adherence to the correct dogma, but one of dynamic movement, reciprocal conversation and mutuality. What he wrote of in various letters and journal entries – today combined to form a book The Practice of the Presence of God, [full text] resounds with our current search for meaning, serenity and centeredness in our post-modern app-based fast-paced world of today.
“Think often on God, by day, by night, in your business and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you; leave him not alone.”
“We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.”
― Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
Brother Lawrence writes about the mysterious and completing fulfillment that comes from practicing the presence of God – being attentive to it – living in constant conversation with the Holy – in all that we do – from washing dishes to seemingly more important things, from the minute to the mega. His writings are an amplification of the word of the Apostle Paul in his ancient pastoral letter of theological advice to the church in Colossae (modern Western Turkey):
Surely, no matter what you are doing (speaking, writing, or working), do it all in the name of Jesus our Master, sending thanks through Him to God our Father.
Colossians 3:17 (The Voice Translation)
Practice that today. I’ve heard it said a modern interpretation of his spiritual teaching about movement and doing would be to do whatever you do – cleaning toilets, data entry, cooking, cleaning, or budgetary analysis – to do it as if you were doing that task for God, as if God was going to use that toilet, eat that meal or use that spreadsheet. How does that change your attention and intention in your movement today?