From The Practice of Presence of God
Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection
THE THIRD CONVERSATION
November22,1666
BR. LAWRENCE told me that the foundation of his spiritual life had been a high idea and conception by faith of God: which, when he had once grasped it, he had at first only to cling to, excluding all other considerations, in order that he might do all his deeds for the love of God. When sometimes a considerable period went by without his thinking about Him, he did not disquiet himself, but acknowledged his wretchedness and returned to God with the more confidence for having experienced such sadness when he forgot Him.
That God is indeed honored by the trust that we put in Him and fulfills it with graces.
That it was impossible, not only that God should deceive, but also that He should permit suffering for any length of time to a soul entirely given up to Him and determined to suffer all things for Him.
That he had now attained a state wherein he thought only of God. If some other thought or a temptation intruded, he felt it coming, and, such was his experience of God’s prompt help, that sometimes he allowed it to approach until it was almost upon him, when he turned to God and it disappeared at once. For the same reason, when he had business to do, he did not think of it beforehand; but when it was time to do it God showed him, as in a mirror, how it should be done. For some time he had followed this plan of not anticipating difficulties; but before his experience of God’s help in such matters he had been troubled when looking forward to them.
That he did not reflect upon those things which were over and done, and even scarcely adverted to that which he was actually doing, and after a meal he did not know what he had eaten. He did all, in his own simple way, for love of God, thanking Him for directing his actions and making many other “acts”; but all quite simply, in such a manner as to maintain himself in the loving presence of God.
That when outside occupation diverted his mind a little from God, some reminder from Him would seize his soul, giving it so strong a sense of God and so kindling it that he sometimes cried aloud, singing and dancing like a lunatic.
That he was more united with God during his ordinary activities than in religious exercises, in which he was generally afflicted with spiritual dryness.
That he expected before long some trouble of body or mind, and the worst would be to lose that sense of God which he had had so long; but the goodness of God assured him that He would not forsake him utterly, and would give him strength to bear whatever evil He might allow to happen to him; therefore he feared nothing and had no need to consult anybody about his spiritual state. When he had tried to do so, he had always come away more perplexed than before, and so, as he knew he was prepared to die and be lost for the love of God, he had no qualms about it. To abandon oneself entirely to God was a sure way and on it was always sufficient light whereby to go forward.
That in the beginning of the spiritual life it was necessary to act faithfully, and renounce one’s own will, but after that there were joys indescribable. In times of difficulty we need only to turn to Jesus and ask for His grace, with which all things become easy.
That many souls get stuck among systems and particular devotions and neglect that love which is their real end. This can be seen at once in their works, and is the reason why we see so little solid virtue.
That neither skill nor knowledge is required to enable us to go to God, but just a heart determined to turn to Him only, to beat for Him only, and to love Him only.
Sorry for any confusion I might have caused.