Reading for Week One:
Chapters One and Two

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE: CHANGE/LOSS
INVENTORY AND LAMENT

This week take time to prayerfully review your last six or twelve months, identifying both positive and negative changes in health (physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual), relationships, employment, roles, and so on (see p. 10 of An Extra Mile). What do you need to acknowledge as change or loss? What do you need to grieve?

Then write a lament to God, honestly naming disappointments, weariness, confusion, anger, sorrow, regrets, fears, or doubts. Ask God to meet you with resurrection life and hope.

Week One: Day One

CHAPTERS ONE AND TWO: BECCA AND HANNAH (PP. 3-10, 38-44)

Scripture Meditation: Matthew 5:4

Read the text aloud several times. Imagine Jesus speaking the words to you. Breathe it as prayer.

For Reflection and Journaling

1. Have you, like Becca, ever experienced unpredictable grief triggers? How did you respond?

</p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche"><span epub:type="pagebreak" id="page_4" title="4"/>2. Have you ever received well-meaning but insensitive advice about how to cope with losses? If so, what advice were you given? How did you respond? Talk with God about what you remember or notice.</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">3. Describe Hannah’s sense of disequilibrium in her new life. In what ways do you identify with her?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form></div></div></div><div class="niv1" id="niv1-004"><h2 class="int_niv1" epub:type="title">Week One: Day Two</h2><figure class="figbas" id="P2a"><div class="imagelarge"><img alt="Illustration" class="imagelarge" src="images/P2.jpg"/></div></figure><div class="niv2" id="niv2-002"><h3 class="int_niv2" epub:type="title">C<small>HAPTER</small> O<small>NE:</small> <i>M</i><small><i>ARA AND </i></small><i>C</i><small><i>HARISSA</i> (PP. 11-23)</small></h3><div class="niv3" id="niv3-003"><h4 class="int_niv3" epub:type="title">Scripture Meditation: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4</h4><p class="txt_courant_ssalinea">Slowly read the verses aloud. Which words or phrases catch your attention and invite your prayerful response?</p></div><div class="niv3" id="niv3-004"><h4 class="int_niv3" epub:type="title">For Reflection and Journaling</h4><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">1. Charissa’s new motto is “Progress, not perfection.” In what ways do you notice Mara and Charissa making progress? In what ways are they still struggling? What do you share in common with them?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche"><span epub:type="pagebreak" id="page_5" title="5"/>2. What images or verses speak to you about resurrection? Spend time pondering these.</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">3. Do you have any simple practices (like Mara’s mirror exercise) that help you remember and rehearse God’s love for you? How can you incorporate these reminders into your day?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form></div></div></div><div class="niv1" id="niv1-005"><h2 class="int_niv1" epub:type="title">Week One: Day Three</h2><figure class="figbas" id="P2b"><div class="imagelarge"><img alt="Illustration" class="imagelarge" src="images/P2.jpg"/></div></figure><div class="niv2" id="niv2-003"><h3 class="int_niv2" epub:type="title">C<small>HAPTER</small> O<small>NE:</small> M<small>EDITATION ON</small> J<small>OHN 11:17-44</small></h3><p class="txt_courant_ssalinea">Turn to the prayer exercise (pp. 24-25) and answer the reflection questions, taking the perspective of either Martha or Mary.</p></div></div><div class="niv1" id="niv1-006"><h2 class="int_niv1" epub:type="title">Week One: Day Four</h2><figure class="figbas" id="P2c"><div class="imagelarge"><img alt="Illustration" class="imagelarge" src="images/P2.jpg"/></div></figure><div class="niv2" id="niv2-004"><h3 class="int_niv2" epub:type="title">C<small>HAPTER</small> O<small>NE:</small> M<small>EDITATION ON</small> J<small>OHN 11:17-44</small></h3><p class="txt_courant_ssalinea">As you pray with your imagination again, enter into the perspective of the other sister. What do you notice as you prayerfully engage the story today?</p></div></div><div class="niv1" id="niv1-007"><span epub:type="pagebreak" id="page_6" title="6"/><h2 class="int_niv1" epub:type="title">Week One: Day Five</h2><figure class="figbas" id="P2e"><div class="imagelarge"><img alt="Illustration" class="imagelarge" src="images/P2.jpg"/></div></figure><div class="niv2" id="niv2-005"><h3 class="int_niv2" epub:type="title">C<small>HAPTER</small> T<small>WO:</small> <i>H</i><small><i>ANNAH AND </i></small><i>M</i><small><i>ARA</i> (PP. 26-37)</small></h3><div class="niv3" id="niv3-005"><h4 class="int_niv3" epub:type="title">Scripture Meditation: John 11:25-26</h4><p class="txt_courant_ssalinea">Imagine Jesus speaking these words to you. How do you respond?</p></div><div class="niv3" id="niv3-006"><h4 class="int_niv3" epub:type="title">For Reflection and Journaling</h4><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">1. Is community a gift or a burden to you when you’re grieving? Why?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">2. Which insights from Hannah’s or Mara’s reflections catch your attention? Why?</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form><div class="lettre"><p class="txt_courant_justif retrait_gauche">3. Are there any losses you’ve shut away, afraid of being overwhelmed by the stench of them? How would you respond if Jesus said to you, “Where have you laid [it]?” Have a conversation with him about this.</p></div><form action="traitement.php" method="post" name="response"> <p><label/><br/><textarea name="response"/></p> </form></div></div></div><div class="niv1" id="niv1-008"><h2 class="int_niv1" epub:type="title">Week One: Day Six</h2><figure class="figbas" id="P2f"><div class="imagelarge"><img alt="Illustration" class="imagelarge" src="images/P2.jpg"/></div></figure><div class="niv2" id="niv2-006"><h3 class="int_niv2" epub:type="title">R<small>EVIEW</small></h3><p class="txt_courant_ssalinea">Return to any questions you weren’t able to ponder during the week, write your prayer of lament, or prayerfully review your notes.</p></div></div></div></section></body></html>