DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

 

• What do you think about Justine’s choice to move from New Hampshire to Kansas?
• In Chapter 4, Goosie and Justine discuss their gifts. Look at Romans 12: 6-8 which lists various God-given gifts. Are you a Servant, a Perceiver, an Administrator, a Teacher, an Empathizer, a Motivator, or a Giver? (If you’d like to delve into the different pros and cons of these gifts, you might want to read “The Sister Circle Handbook” (by myself and Brenda Josee) or “Discovering Your God-Given Gifts” by Don and Katie Fortune. Hint: You probably have more than one of these gifts, but most often, one is prominent.
• In Chapter 7 Justine is about to interview people about Uriah. She has to be discreet in her questioning and prays, Lord, help me only say what You want me to say. Have you ever prayed such a prayer? What were the results? Should you pray that prayer? Often?
• In Chapter 8 Justine gets peeved at dinner because her family isn’t making a bigger deal of her ability to travel through time. She admits she wants them to make a fuss—which elicits laughter. What do you think about Justine’s behavior? Was she being selfish, or is her desire for a “fuss” understandable?
• In regard to Justine’s gift, Dorthea says it’s like any great gift—it often can be overwhelming to the family and they end up just leaving the gifted-one alone. If Justine was in your family, how would you deal with her extraordinary gift?
• In Chapter 9, Dorthea and Justine discuss time travel. Justine talks about seeing her mother at age twenty—at virtually Justine’s age. “If only everyone could meet their young parents as peers, not parents, the generations would understand each other better.” Think of your own parents. What would you like to know about their younger days—before you were born? What were they like when they were young?
• In Chapter 9, Dorthea says one of the hardest things to do is to let our children go. Have you experienced this? What were the difficulties? What were the victories?
• In Chapter 9, Dorthea talks to Justine about making time to get married—as there might never be a perfect time. This bit of advice can be applied to many big decisions in life beyond marriage: having children, getting a new job, going back to school, starting a new project. Name a life decision where you made the decision to “just do it” instead of waiting for the perfect time. What were the results?
• In Chapter 10 Justine feels burdened with the responsibility God has given her. She has many unanswered questions regarding what to do with the information she’s discovering. Harland tells her she’s not an ordinary woman, or rather, she can do ordinary things and tackle the extraordinary tasks that her gift involves. Name a woman you know (perhaps yourself) who is faced with this sort of balancing act. How does she (you) balance the ordinary and the extraordinary?
• Also in Chapter 10, Virginia is faced with some hard truths, but in acknowledging her husband’s sins, she is freed to love Eddie, the man who stood by her through the hard times. Has God ever placed someone in your life to help you through hard times?
• In Chapter 11, after spending time away from Uriah, Alva briefly shows a stronger side of herself to Uriah, yet she knows there needs to be a “delicacy in her strength.” What do you think this means? How do you think Alva handled Uriah after this?
• In Chapter 13, Alva talks about the fear she has around Uriah. She can’t eat. She just wants to curl up and hide. “You have to understand that the anticipation of his wrath is just as painful as his wrath.” How do you handle conflict? Have you felt like Alva? How do we gain courage in the midst of fear?
• In Chapter 16 Justine is frustrated that her travels have not provided usable proof against Uriah, yet knows that nothing she discovers is wasted. Harland paraphrases I Corinthians 15: 58: “Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” How has God used seemingly unimportant events or moments in your life toward a larger goal?
• In Chapter 20 Justine realizes that justice isn’t just about getting the perpetrator convicted and punished, it’s also about setting the victims free. Have you ever been the victim of injustice? How was it resolved? How were you set free?
• In Chapter 21 everyone finds out that Uriah is dead. They rejoice. As Christians should they rejoice?