Letters, 6-9 Summary and Analysis

Letter six begins in a conversational way, as Brother Lawrence thanks the recipient for some items received. He quickly moves into the subject at hand and encourages the recipient to strive for the presence of God even in old age. For himself, Brother Lawrence vows that he cannot imagine a life apart from the presence of God. For him, the presence exists nearly as a tangible thing. To achieve this lifestyle, a man must willingly deprive himself on occasion, though not violently or out of habit. However, times of fasting or abstinence causes a man to rely upon God in new and extended ways. It also can "express our love". Brother Lawrence ends by asking for prayers.

The author's note tells the reader that, at the age of eighty, Brother Lawrence addresses this letter to a younger man of...