1. When Father Tim neglects his health, it impacts not only himself but his wife, his friends, and his plans for a new mission. Is taking care of ourselves a responsibility to others? How can we balance our commitments with what we can realistically manage?
2. Father Tim is deeply torn between his need for Cynthia's presence and his concern that she not miss her thrilling trip to New York. What are some other examples of mixed feelings that haunt even the best marriages?
3. Mitford's longtime rector remembers how writing has helped him with unhappiness in the past. Have you tried that? What kinds of things would you write in a journal, an essay, or a story? Have you suffered depression, or cared for someone who did?
4. A year's ministry with Appalachian children could be, Father Tim feels, his legacy to the future. What do you hope to bequeath to generations to come?
5. When George Gaynor arrives in Mitford, several characters see
a dilemma in the employment of an ex-con. Was it a wise decision? What are the arguments for and against?
6. Discuss how Helene Pringle and Hope Winchester are guided to Lord's Chapel. How often does this happen through other people, and how often is it a direct revelation from God?
1 comment:
Hi all,
We had an interesting discussion about our last selection which was "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck! We all had read the book previously -- most of us in high school, but we were amazed at our different experience reading the book as adults! We discussed issues about extreme poverty relating that to our own experiences. We discussed the issues of rich vs. poor as it relates to our society today. Was it morally "right" for Wang Lung (the main character) and his wife to steal the money that eventually causes them to turn their lives around. They become a very weathy, well-respected family after stealing money from a rich landowner during a revolution. We also discussed Wang Lung's relationship to his persevering wife who works like a slave to provide for her husband and children and never complains. Anyway, it was a great read and it provided us with interesting material to discuss.
Join us for our next meeting to discuss Jan Karon's book. This is a dramatic departure from our other books, and it should make for an interesting discussion.
Linda Barber
Post a Comment