Questions for Discussion

  1. The National Runaway Safeline estimates that on any given night there are approximately 1.3 million homeless youth living unsupervised on the streets of the U.S.A., in abandoned buildings, with friends or with strangers. Does your community attempt to provide shelter for what are often referred to as “unaccompanied” youth?
  2. Seventy-five percent of all runaways are female; between 6 and 22 percent of those are or become pregnant while homeless. Can you imagine what it is like to live on the street while pregnant?
  3. Seventy-five percent of homeless youth have or will drop out of high school. Can you imagine how difficult it is to attend school while homeless?
  4. Teens 12 to 17 become homeless for many reasons. Many run away due to physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Others wind up homeless for economic reasons. Some are aging out of the foster care system. Some are escaping foster care. Homeless shelters often refuse to take them for fear the older residents will prey on them. Do you see solutions to these problems?
  5. Great strides have been made in the treatment of cancer, especially endometrial cancers, but many women with advanced cases still find themselves unable to bear children after treatment. How might this impact a newlywed looking forward to starting a family?
  6. Lyla Simone obviously suffered from feelings of guilt and low self-esteem. As a result, she assumed that her sister and extended family would be unaccepting of her. Do you understand Simone’s feelings? Why or why not? What about the feelings of her sister and family?
  7. Does Simone’s attraction to an older man make sense in light of her inability to bear children? Why or why not?
  8. Morgan had lots of experience deflecting the feelings of young women who wanted to gain his attention. Why was it different with Simone? Did her illness have anything to do with it? Explain.
  9. Morgan sincerely tried to obey the letter of the regulations concerning professors and students. The provost was satisfied that he did so. Are you? Why or why not?
  10. Many more couples wish to adopt infants in this country than can actually do so. Adoption requirements through normal channels are very stringent, and the process can be very expensive. Private adoptions are handled much more loosely, however. Does this seem right or fair to you?
  11. Some believe that biological or natural parents should have no say in who adopts their offspring. They feel that the whole matter should be handled by unemotional third parties. Does this seem right or fair to you?
  12. Dr. Brooks Leland married a woman whom he knew to be dying, and he believed that was all part of God’s plan for his life. Does that seem possible or reasonable? Why or why not?