Practicing God's Presence

I picked up a little book many years ago at a thrift store call The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence.  All of about 95 short pages, this humble book teaches the simple but profound concept of resting in God's presence.  After all, centering prayer is not an end in itself.  It is like the key that opens us up to God's presence in a tangible way.  But we cannot not practice centering prayer all day long.  And yet, Brother Lawrence describes how he can rest in God's presence all day long, even in the midst of chores and duties, joys and struggles.  Brother Lawrence's simple prescription for dealing with the ebb and flow of daily life is really the goal of the contemplative life.  For our lives to be consumed by God's love and in turn to love Her with all that we possess in each moment, is the most that we could ever hope for in this life.  I know you might read this book and think, wow, there was not much to it.  But each time I read it I see jewels that were left out in plain sight, but that I overlooked because I did not have the eyes of faith to see them.  Do centering prayer, and read this book often, and together we will experience God's presence!