Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
Week 19: "How to Stay" — The Practice of Faithfulness
Read the chapter "How to Stay" in Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist
Previewing Week 19 of Present Over Perfect
Read 3 of 6 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 22-week guide when you’re ready.
In a culture obsessed with the new, staying — in a place, a marriage, a community, a season — is one of the most countercultural and formative things a person can do.
Discussion Questions
6 questions1.Niequist writes about the discipline of staying — not fleeing when things get hard, not always looking for the next better thing. Where in your life are you most tempted to leave (emotionally, physically, or relationally) rather than stay?
2.She reflects on the way that rootedness — staying in a neighborhood, a community, a friendship — creates a depth that mobile, provisional relationships cannot. Where do you feel most rooted in your current life? Where do you feel most provisional or temporary?
3.There is a difference between staying out of passivity or fear and staying as an active, chosen form of faithfulness. How do you distinguish between those two kinds of staying in your own experience?