IC. 32 - Brother Lawrence

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/brother-lawrence/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>This podcast is based on The Practice of the Presence of God, a record of the life and words of Brother Lawrence (Whitaker House, 1982). Includes the biography of his life by Joseph de Beaufort, written shortly after his death (in 1691). For clarity, I have put Brother Lawrence's words in blue. The other words, when in quotes, are Joseph de Beaufort's. Click on the arrow to hear the podcast (34 mins) or see instructions to download below.</p><h3>Introduction</h3><p>We may be tempted to conceive of Christian history as a vast wasteland stretching from the post-apostolic period till fairly modern times; yet this is not quite accurate.</p><p>Even in centuries when devotion to God was the exception rather than the rule, there were numerous men and women of faith whose light shone, offering a strong contrast to the carelessness of the age. Brother Lawrence was one of these.</p><h3><strong>Life</strong></h3><ul><li>Born Nicholas Herman in France, early 17th century, into a poor family.</li><li>Army life</li><li>Poverty drove him into the army, where he was fed and received a small stipend.</li><li>Most of Europe was at war. (This was the time of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years'_War">Thirty Years' War.</a>)</li><li>Taken prisoner by the Germans.</li><li>When there was talk of hanging him as a spy, he replied that since he'd never done anything to give him a bad conscience, he was not afraid of death.</li><li>There on he was released.</li><li>Wounded.</li><li>Back to parents' home</li><li>Humility: determined to accept the gospel</li><li>Enters a Paris monastery</li><li>Insight from a tree [age 18]: "In the deep of winter, Herman looked at a barren tree, stripped of leaves and fruit, waiting silently and patiently for the sure hope of summer abundance. Gazing at the tree, Herman grasped for the first time the extravagance of God's gr