Group questions:

  1. What is your favorite thing about where you currently live? My favorite thing is the friends that I have made.
  2. How did you end up going to the parish you currently attend? It’s the one assigned to the area I live in.
  3. We often give things up or take things on for Lent. Throughout your whole life, what was the best thing you ever gave up or took on? Why did it leave such an impact? Giving up soda. Soda can be delightful treat, but I was treating it as something I always needed to have. When you give up something you have almost daily you realize that it’s not necessary to have all the time. I was also looking to improve my run time and athletic ability overall. By giving up one thing I aimed to improve myself in adding another.

Group questions:

  1. What desire or longing feels loudest in your life right now, and what does it seem to be asking for? The desire for more meaningful friendships. It seems to be asking me to build a more meaningful relationship with those I’m around right now and figure out how I can best help or strive towards the Lord together.
  2. Can you think of a time when a season of waiting or lack revealed something important about you (either good or hard)? What was notable about that time? What did it reveal? How have you responded since it was revealed? I realized in a state of singleness and having the desire for marriage and making spiritual friendships, I need to change the way I live my life. I need to be willing to go outside my comfort zone and do what is hard for me. Since, I’ve said yes to joining in with groups I would normally say no to. I asked out a girl I was interested in. These small things have lead me to know where I am going from this point forward.
  3. Is the clarity that the desert reveals worth the suffering it also brings? Discuss. Yes. The pain will subside and that will be exactly what is needed.

Group questions:

  1. If you were completely honest with God tonight, what would you be tempted to hold back? What’s stopping you?
  2. What would it look like for you to fully bring either your desire or your disappointment into God’s Presence without trying to fix it? By giving it up to the Lord I will allow Him to show me the path ahead.

Group questions:

  1. When this Retreat feeling fades (because it will), what is one small practice that could help you remain honest with God in the desert? Plan time with the Lord and allow Him to work through you.
  2. What does “rejoicing in the Lord” look like for you in an ordinary, stressful week - not an ideal one? Thanking the Lord for allowing the stresses to help me draw closer to Him. These troubles now will help me improve myself and He will fill me up.