Awake at All Hours
Jesus said, “Keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening or at midnight or at cockcrow or at dawn.” – Mark 13:35 (NRSV)
One of the most simple and profound spiritual practices is to “practice the presence of God” as described by Brother Lawrence (1614–1691), a French Carmelite monk. Practicing the presence of God concentrated Brother Lawrence’s attention to every task.
“I have abandoned all particular forms of devotion, all prayer techniques,” Brother Lawrence wrote. “My only prayer practice is attention.”
In my experience, the presence of God is the presence of loving attention. If the word “God” is an obstacle for you, imagine going about your daily activities with the level of care and attention you would maintain while holding a sleeping baby.
That’s what I was taught twenty-eight years ago in Plum Village, the monastery founded by Thich Nhat Hahn in France. I learned to wash dishes and clean the kitchen as if bathing a baby. At first it felt contrived and just a bit sappy. Before long, I came to appreciate this practice a great deal. Offering gentle care to a fragile little human can turn anyone into an awakened being, if only for a moment, which is all we have.
When my mind is muddled such that I am unable to “practice the presence,” I ask myself: “What am I aware of at this moment? What’s happening inside? Is there any tension or contraction within me? What emotion is present? What thought prompted that emotion?” Suddenly, presence is possible. When I am present, the great I AM is present too. Is there a difference?
Stay awake. Watch your thoughts. Be alert and present to the One who is presence itself.
Prayer
Holy presence, thank you for holding us with loving care at all hours.
About the AuthorMatt Laney is co-Pastor of Virginia Highland Church UCC in Atlanta, GA and the author of Pride Wars, a fantasy series published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers. The first two books, The Spinner Prince and The Four Guardians are available now.