Pots, Pans and Prayer

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.” — from 1 Thessalonians 5

Can you imagine the monastery kitchen at dinner time? Pots bubbling. Pans clattering. Spoons banging. Lots of people rushing about, and several of them calling out for different things all at once.

Most people would get flustered in a kitchen like that. But people noticed something about Brother Lawrence. Even in the busiest, noisiest moments, he stayed calm. He was never in a rush, and he was never lazy. He did each thing at the right time, peacefully and steadily.

How did he do it? He was praying all the time, not with loud words, but in his heart. He said that the time when he was working was no different from the time when he was praying.

In his own words, put simply: “In the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several people are calling for different things at the same time, I have God as peacefully as if I were on my knees in prayer.”

For Brother Lawrence, prayer wasn’t only for special times. He could be close to God anywhere, even with his hands in the washing-up.

You can talk to God at school, in the car, on the playground or while you brush your teeth. You don’t have to wait for a quiet place. He is with you in the busy, noisy times too.

Dear God, thank you that I can talk to you anywhere. Help me to stay close to you when things are busy and noisy. Amen.