"Called to Question"
Summer 2006 Bible Study

Chapters 6,7 and 8

"St. Joan of Arc Bible Study is an open and growing group that meets for fellowship and to discuss the Bible and other faith-centered literature. Our informal study group draws from biblical scholarship, historical perspectives, current events and personal reflections. We welcome honor and respect the personal ideas and spiritual journeys of all who join us."

Greetings

A small but earnest group turned out tonight. Other members had previously announced their expected absences, so it was not a surprise; we just pulled the circle in a little tighter.

This is not a book to be analyzed or summarized; as one of us so aptly stated, "It needs to be savored". Most of the evening was spent in re-reading, out loud, passages that struck us individually, followed by a round of comments. The book keeps us focused; we did not stray at all into digressions, as so often happens.

Called to Question Study Notes
August 22, 2006

Chapter 6 The Call of God: An Echo in the Heart

Joan puts some elegant words around the idea of the "call" of God in our lives.

Dead ends and haunting questions. Pg. 50

"the road that goes to the self is the one that goes to God" Easier said than done? Pg51

pg 52 Examples of people unable or unwilling to give birth to the call in their lives.. Is it easier to find these examples, rather than folks who "get" what they are uniquely created to do or be in the world?

Pg 54 The spiritual life is the discovery of the self God meant us to be so that who we are can be God's gift to the rest of the world.

Chapter 7 Insight: The Alchemy of Experience

This chapter could be a homily based on the SJA welcome line "We welcome you, wherever you are on your journey". Joan unpacks the idea of journey as the archetype of a life of faith..

Definition of insight: the imaginative power to see into and understand immediately (a person, situation, etc) or an item of knowledge of gained through this power.

Pg 59 Indeed, the learning about the self.......

The idea of "testing life' (pg 60) is a challenge for us - we yearn for some time of equilibrium, but life moves on and so do we.

Great picture of community on bottom of pg60. Is this what we do for each other and what SJA does for our entire faith community?

Last paragraph pg 61 is a restating of the idea that we are not physical creatures having a spiritual experience, but spirits having a physical experience.

Chapter 8 Solitude: The Balm of the Soul

This chapter introduces the idea of contemplation as a spiritual need and quiet as a physical one.

Is this a challenge you feel in your life - times of reflection and distance from the day to day pace of life?

Pg 67 Withdrawal vs. contemplation . the separation of life into two spheres "daily" and "sacred"

Chapter 9 The Self: The Ground of Our Becoming

Another visit to "journey" as metaphor for a life of faith and spirit. Also the paradox of "doing" vs. "being".

Pg 73 The greatest spiritual problem...

What pulls you forward, what challenges you to start over, or start again, or look in a new direction, or go around that corner???

What is the spiritual challenge you feel in your life today?

What milestones can you identify in your life so far that help you see how far you have come and how far you have to go?

The designated treat bringer was detained by a mission of mercy, but still managed to deliver our favorite cookies, which we supplemented with bars left over from another celebration. A pot of decaf lubricated the conversation, but the book drew us back into reading and discussing the final chapter of the night without any prompting.

Thank you Bob for keeping us folks in the loop!

Next week: August 29, 2006 Chittister "Called to Question" chapters 10, 11, and 12.

• Facilitator: Claire
• Opening prayer: Judith
• Treats Vi
• Closing prayer Frank