Dear Friends of Longview Chapel,
“All things are possible to him who believes, less difficult to him who hopes, easy to him who loves, and still easier to him who perseveres in the practice of these three virtues.”
― Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
Brother Lawrence was born Nicolas Herman in France around 1614. He was raised in a poor family, so he had little formal education. It is said that in his teens, he was observing a leafless winter tree. From this he suddenly understood God’s power to renew and transform, and this core belief stayed with him all of his life.
As a young man, his poverty forced him to join the army. He was wounded in battle and permanently lame. He was taken prisoner and threatened with execution. After he recovered from this, he became a footman for a noble household. He described himself as “a great awkward fellow who broke everything.” He finally entered a monastery where he had menial jobs due to his lack of education. Through all of his struggles, he found his way to believe in and rely on God’s transforming power, working in him and through him as he practiced his faith day by day.
He understood and lived the principles that faith makes it possible for us to even see that an opportunity exists. Hope helps to make it less difficult for us to keep moving forward. And love makes things easier, because we are acting not out of duty, but instead out of desire. As we persevere in these three ― faith, hope, and love ― we find our spiritual life can thrive and become more natural and joyful.
How are we applying faith, hope, and love as we continue to follow Jesus on our own and together at the Chapel? May these words of Paul encourage us:
“Faith, hope and love remain, these three, but the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:13
Building Community with You,
Pastor Donna