Chapter 7: God Meets You Where You Are

• Consider the forms of prayer discussed in Chapter
Seven: contemplation, lectio divina, centering prayer, the
colloquy, communal prayer, rote prayer, journaling,
nature prayer, music, and work. Did any of these forms
of prayer surprise you? Have you tried any new
approaches to prayer since reading this book?
• Fr. Martin’s original objection to Ignatian contemplation
was that it was just “making things up in your head”
(p. 146). In response, David, his spiritual director, suggested
that God could work through his imagination.
Does that make sense?
• Try selecting a favorite passage from your sacred Scriptures
and using it for “Ignatian contemplation.” What
was your experience like?

Chapter 8:  The Simple Life

• Why do you think poverty, chastity, and obedience are
“threatening” in our culture?
• Fr. Martin’s experience in East Africa showed him that
“less stood between the refugees and God,” and therefore
they were close to God. What stands between you and
God? Is there any way you can minimize that distance?
• Does a “sensible simplicity” sound appealing or uncomfortable?
How might living more simply draw you closer
to God?
• What, to you, is the underlying message of Pedro
Arrupe’s surprising experience in the slum, on
pp. 211–212?