“Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.” — Claude Monet
This quote reminds of Nayaswami Parvati’s beautiful talk at Sunday service this morning.
She was sharing about Brother Lawrence, telling us that his way of practicing the presence of God was absolutely just love. He simply loved God!
He became a lay member in a monastery, but when he tried to tune into the dogma of the church (being a sinner; heaven and hell; etc.) it made him feel bad. So he just continued loving God instead!
He wasn’t educated and his service was very humble, but he was filled with deep wisdom and his spiritual life was dynamic.
Brother Lawrence died in 1691 but his insights and teachings continue to inspire us more than 300 years later.
Thinking of his life, I don’t think he would mind if I adapt the above quote by Claude Monet in his honor:
“Everyone discusses God and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.”