Reflection Questions
Welcome to the Wisdom of the World - Joan Chittister

As much as we all sometimes desire to get away from the stressors of life, we are not meant to live in isolation, separate from others; we need others and others need us.  To get away from it all is not the purpose of life.

 How do I balance the need for quiet and peace in my life with the need for life with others? 

 Chittister presents 3 reasons we can’t get away from it all:

 1.      The power of the familiar which is a large part of who we are, the root of our identity, the place of our growing – the wrestling with the roots of us is part of our human spiritual growth

 What are my roots that I “wrestle with” that help me grow spiritually?

2.     A need in all of us to go forward in new directions – and for this I need others

3.     We do not live for our own sake – we all have gifts to be shared so that the world may become a better place

 What personal gifts do I live for the sake of a better world?  Do I have gifts I could live more fully?  What are they?

Are there times in my life when I have chosen a course that put new excitement in my life?

·         What were the circumstances?

·         What gave me the courage and determination to step out of the familiar, out of my comfort zone, into new “territory”?

·         What was the excitement this new path provided?

·         Currently, am I living excitement in my life or am I treading water? 

o        Do I feel called in a new direction? 

o        If so, to what do I feel called? 

o        What will be required of me (what will help me follow this new path?