Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton
Week 1: Introduction — Desire as the Starting Point
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Before exploring any spiritual practice, Barton asks us to begin with something more fundamental: the raw, honest desire beneath our spiritual seeking. Sit with these questions before rushing past them.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Barton opens by describing a kind of spiritual exhaustion — a sense of going through religious motions without experiencing real transformation. How honestly does that description land for you right now? What brought you to this book or this group?
2.She draws on the image of Jacob wrestling with God at the Jabbok river (Genesis 32) as a picture of honest, desperate spiritual desire. What do you think it means to 'wrestle' with God rather than simply performing religious duty? Have you ever had a moment that felt more like wrestling than routine?
3.Barton distinguishes between wanting the benefits of spiritual growth and actually wanting God himself. Be honest: when you imagine being more 'spiritually mature,' what are you really hoping for — peace, better relationships, relief from anxiety, or something else? Is there anything wrong with those motivations?
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