The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley
Week 3: Daily Habit 2 — One Meal with Others
Read the chapter on One Meal with Others in The Common Rule. Key Scripture: Luke 24:28–35; Acts 2:42–47.
Previewing Week 3 of The Common Rule
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 13-week guide when you’re ready.
Earley's second daily habit cuts against one of the most normalized forms of modern isolation: eating alone, at a desk, in front of a screen. This week, consider what your mealtimes are actually doing to you.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Earley points out that the average American eats more than half of their meals alone. Before reading this chapter, how conscious were you of where and with whom you eat? What does your typical lunch look like?
2.He argues that the table is one of the primary places where love becomes concrete — where we practice the slow, inefficient work of paying attention to another person. What in your schedule most often prevents you from eating with someone else?
3.Earley is careful to say this habit doesn't require a formal dinner party. It might be a coworker, a spouse, a neighbor. Why do you think he works so hard to lower the barrier? What does that tell us about the enemy of this habit — perfectionism, busyness, or something else?