...in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and considering that within a little time, the leaves would be renewed, and after that the flowers and fruit appear... ~ Brother Lawrence
Each of us faces a Winter of discontent when our trials appear to overwhelm us. The wise learn from life's experiences that Spring follows when our patience, and endurance rewards us with a plentiful harvest sufficient for our needs.
The well esteemed Brother Lawrence learned to live happily with his simple status becoming well acquainted with life's invitation to live contentedly with sufficient to satisfy his needs. There is great satisfaction when being grateful for our abundance, granted to us to share with those in great need of our practical assistance.
So many of us get caught up with some impatience when facing our daily challenges that test our endurance to breaking point, that we often neglect to look over our shoulder at those who are never satisfied seeking more, and more to add to their misery that they will never accrue sufficient to satisfy their lust for more of the same.
There is joy in celebrating the little that enables us to live happily with a full stomach, and shelter providing us with security making a nonsense of the distinction we can make between having enough and wanting.
Authentic contentment that rewards us with peace of mind must evolve from within our very being, for we cannot change our external circumstances without first exercising control over those internalised matters that drive us to seek success through material gain to excess. Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. ~Leo Tolstoy
Contentment is seeded to grow, and flourish when our aspirations are inspired by our need to live happily with sufficient. No matter what looms ahead, if you can eat today, enjoy today, mix good cheer with friends today enjoy it and bless God for it. ~Henry Ward Beecher
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Mmmm....
Posted by Pete on April 19, 2018, 11:53 pm, in reply to "Contentment "
Even if one had nothing and nobody and yet they had The Lord... then.. then.. (excuse me I'm going to SHOUT now...)... THAT WOULD BE CONTENTMENT!!!
Praise be the Holy Lord (forever)
Pete
--Previous Message-- : ... in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of : its leaves, and considering that within a : little time, the leaves would be renewed, : and after that the flowers and fruit : appear... ~ Brother Lawrence : : Each of us faces a Winter of discontent when : our trials appear to overwhelm us. The wise : learn from life's experiences that Spring : follows when our patience, and endurance : rewards us with a plentiful harvest : sufficient for our needs. : : The well esteemed Brother Lawrence learned : to live happily with his simple status : becoming well acquainted with life's : invitation to live contentedly with : sufficient to satisfy his needs. There is : great satisfaction when being grateful for : our abundance, granted to us to share with : those in great need of our practical : assistance. : : So many of us get caught up with some : impatience when facing our daily challenges : that test our endurance to breaking point, : that we often neglect to look over our : shoulder at those who are never satisfied : seeking more, and more to add to their : misery that they will never accrue : sufficient to satisfy their lust for more of : the same. : : There is joy in celebrating the little that : enables us to live happily with a full : stomach, and shelter providing us with : security making a nonsense of the : distinction we can make between having : enough and wanting. : : Authentic contentment that rewards us with : peace of mind must evolve from within our : very being, for we cannot change our : external circumstances without first : exercising control over those internalised : matters that drive us to seek success : through material gain to excess. : : Everyone thinks of changing the world, but : no one thinks of changing himself. ~Leo : Tolstoy : : Contentment is seeded to grow, and flourish : when our aspirations are inspired by our : need to live happily with sufficient. : : No matter what looms ahead, if you can eat : today, enjoy today, mix good cheer with : friends today enjoy it and bless God for it. : ~Henry Ward Beecher : : : : end : : : : : : : :
Re: Mmmm....
Posted by Alex Caughey on April 20, 2018, 4:02 am, in reply to "Mmmm.... "
Well, Pete, Brother Lawrence shares your understanding for he often commented that God is at our side whether we are in church, or cooking in our kitchen.
Carmelite, Lay brother Lawrence spent most of his adult life cooking for his brothers, and in later life making, and repairing the sandals for his community.
I quote:
An answer to a Friar’s question on The Practice of the Presence of God “From the moment I entered religious life, I considered God to be the goal and end of all my soul’s thoughts and affections. At the beginning of my novitiate, during the hours consecrated to mental prayer, I spent my time learning to appreciate the Truth of this divine Being, more so by the light of faith than by the work of meditation and discourse. By this short and sure means I advanced in the knowledge of (God) with whom I resolved to remain forever…”
Posted by Pete on April 20, 2018, 10:30 am, in reply to "Re: Mmmm.... "
Thanks Alex, great quote. I read Bro Lawrence years ago and recall the writings filled with very relatable and practical spiritual advice. It's interesting he felt he had no hope of salvation for 10 years. I once felt like that for five years (and sometimes still do). Not a pleasant experience. Thanks for sharing and may Brother Lawrence pray for us!
Pete
--Previous Message-- : Well, Pete, Brother Lawrence shares your : understanding for he often commented that : God is at our side whether we are in church, : or cooking in our kitchen. : : Carmelite, Lay brother Lawrence spent most : of his adult life cooking for his brothers, : and in later life making, and repairing the : sandals for his community. : : I quote: : : An answer to a Friar’s question on The : Practice of the Presence of God “From the : moment I entered religious life, I : considered God to be the goal and end of all : my soul’s thoughts and affections. At the : beginning of my novitiate, during the hours : consecrated to mental prayer, I spent my : time learning to appreciate the Truth of : this divine Being, more so by the light of : faith than by the work of meditation and : discourse. By this short and sure means I : advanced in the knowledge of (God) with whom : I resolved to remain forever…” : : More on Brother Lawrence: : : : http://www.carmelites.net/news/brother-lawrence-of-the-resurrection/ : : : end : : : :