every human being matters

For many decades, I have been searching for a way to gain lasting peace. The pious practices given over the centuries seemed always so burdensome and tedious that I would often give up the effort.

None of it grew me closer to God. It only caused me to push Him further away.

And I remained in agitation, not peace.

A dear friend recommended reading Brother Lawrence who lived around 1610. His book, The Practice of the Presence of God, is a reflection of his writings and his simplicity of persepective.

He had been a soldier who, like Saint Ignatius, had incurred a near fatal injury during his service. And, like Saint Ignatius, it left him crippled for life.

Brother Lawrence’s life…

Brother Lawrence gained entrance to a monastery where he lived out the remaining years of his life.

The greatest accomplishment was his absolute peace. No matter what befell him, he remained in that Shalom, unshakeable in his Faith that God would only mete out what was due to him. His was an understanding of his actual relationship to God, his eternal Father. He saw himself as a poor sinner, one who could never reach perfection of his own accord. So, like Saint Theresa of Lesieux, he began, from the moment he started his religious life, to always put God in his mind.

It started during his required prayer and devotion times as a monk. He imagined himself before God—like a child leaning on His breast or a sinner before the eternal Judge. These thoughts accompanied him constantly—while doing dishes, helping in the kitchen, cleaning floors, or even in interactions with the other brothers—keeping God at the forefront of his mind.

He said that after 10 years of this practice, done, in his words, “imperfectly”, the task became an easy one. Whenever thoughts or distractions that were not on God came to mind, whatever desires or worldly enticements came his way, he immediately refocused on God.

To him, nothing else mattered. And to him, the events around him and to him were from the hand of God. So why worry? Wasn’t God in control?

Times today…

In today’s turbulent world, peace is hard to hold. War rumors and attacks—verbal, physical, emotional—perpetually assault us. Under this relentless pressure, we start to believe we don’t matter, and life becomes too much to bear.

But what if you knew that the Creator who made you knows when, where, and why you were created? He understands your limits and will give you the Grace to endure what may come. Wouldn’t that bring you complete peace?

How do you really practice this?

When that cooperation to His Will is as complete in you as you are capable of giving to Him, He will make up your lack.

As Saint Theresa proclaimed, we are called to become as little children, as our Lord requested. As children, we depended on our parents—trusting them and not worrying about our survival. In an ideal family, we receive care—meals, clothing, shelter—and protection. If threatened, we’re defended; if hurt, we’re comforted.

We must see God as our loving Father, our source of security. He won’t give us challenges unless, like a caring parent guiding a child through hardships, they are for our own good.

Admittedly not an easy task, and cannot be accomplished without prayer for the Grace to help us in our struggles to embrace such a change in our controlling perspective…but it works. And even to the limited degree we can accomplish this habit, it is one step closer to the goal of perfect acceptance, and inner peace.

If we fully trust Him to guide us moment by moment, there’s no need to worry. Embracing this truth brings lasting peace—one that endures and deepens through every circumstance for a lifetime.