Closer Than a Brother

I read this book first in the early 80s and was struck by the sincere story of faith of Brother Lawrence in this updated for today story of simple faith in an era full of difficult times and issues. I just reread it and even in the 21st century the story and search for the grounding of living by simple faith is relevant to today. this version is an update of the classic Practicing the Presence Of Jesus bringing the story into modern times while retaining the timelessness of faith in God. It would be wonderful if this was brought back into print i would buy a dozen copies and give them to my friends.

David Winter brought Brother Lawrence, the humble kitchen monk who was able to enjoy the living presence of God even amid the hustle and bustle of the monastery kitchen, into the 1970's as "Laurie, the happy man," special diets kitchen supervisor in a busy Boston hospital. The conversations, while essentially true to the original, are enlivened by the introduction of a very active narrator and his skeptical friend who bring up the issues addressed by Brother Lawrence 300 years ago. Many translations of THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD seem dry and almost forbidding, something you cannot imagine of Brother Lawrence himself, so this update was most welcome and getting it back in print would be a true godsend.