Week 3: Book One, Chapters VI–XII — Peace, Adversity, and the Uses of Trouble

1.In Chapter VI, Thomas makes a sharp observation: the man who yields to inordinate desire finds that 'immediately he is weighed down by the condemnation of his conscience, because he hath followed his own desire, and yet in no way attained the peace which he hoped for.' Have you experienced this pattern — getting what you wanted and finding it did not deliver the peace you anticipated? What does Thomas say is the true source of peace?

2.Chapter VIII warns against 'too much familiarity' — being careless about who shapes our inner life through close companionship. Thomas says, 'We must love all men, but not make close companions of all.' Does this strike you as cold or as wisdom? How do you currently make decisions about who gets close access to your heart and mind?

3.In Chapter XI, Thomas writes that 'if each year should see one fault rooted out from us, we should go quickly on to perfection.' He then laments that we 'often feel that we were better and holier in the beginning of our conversion than after many years.' Is this honest with your own experience? What has happened — for better or worse — to your first ardor?