Reading Guide 1

1. Sam's childhood memories from Piddock Beach had a tremendous impact on him. Think back over your childhood. What experiences and memories helped shape who you have become? Can you see God's hand in your past, helping to mold your present and future? What do you believe about God using your past before you were committed to him?
   


2. Discuss the wounds Aubrey received from her father and the repercussions she experienced as a result. Does the realization that our childhood memories are so powerful affect the value you place on your children's experiences? What would you do differently in the lives of the children you influence?
   


3. Sam listened when God spoke to him, specifically for the call on his life to be a pastor, and he acted in obedience even when he didn't completely understand the details. Is there anything you feel God is asking of you? What is the price of obedience, and what is the price of disobedience?
   


4. Sam felt the Father's "nudge" to begin reaching out to homeless people in his community. Obviously, it was not the "popular" program for the church to pursue. How do you feel the church is doing in following God's plan for His church? Do you feel that the church is run more from a business perspective or from a spiritual perspective? How should we reconcile the two?
   


5. Brenda relied heavily on Sam, her big brother, to fix things in her life. Sam's father notices, "You've been taking care of everyone but yourself." Do you think Sam, in his best intentions, allowed Brenda to become too dependent on him instead of pointing her to God for healing? Discuss the balance of God working through us to minister to others and setting up boundaries to protect ourselves and allowing God to minister directly to the other person.
   


6. Hunter was trying to cope with the painful loss of his father as well as the guilt of wrecking Sam's Mustang. What do you think of Sam's conversations with him throughout the book? What advice would you give Hunter, or what would you have done for him?
   


7. In light of Sam leaving on sabbatical, Sam's father points out, "Maybe it isn't your fighting he (God) wants anymore, son. Maybe it's your relinquishing the fight to Him." Is there anything in your life that you need to relinquish to God? What does the relinquishing look like? How can we know when to relinquish the fight or stay to fight for what is right? What do you think of the way Sam handled it?
   


8. Sam felt that it hadn't been his choice to take a sabbatical, but he had been struggling; "I don't doubt God. I doubt myself." How do you think his sabbatical would have been different if it had been self-imposed to sort through his doubts? Do you feel that distance from a problem can help you see the solution more clearly, or do you feel that working through the hard times in the midst of the difficulties is more realistic? Why do you feel that way?
   


9. If you had a sabbatical, what would you do? Are there questions for which you are searching for answers, or certain things you would want to accomplish? What do you think God would have you do with your time off?
   
10) Sam experienced several deaths: Kenneth, Joe, Lester's nephew and, in a figurative sense, Aubrey. Describe how Sam dealt with each death and how his role varied each time. Have you had to go through the grieving process either literally or figuratively? How did it affect your perspective on life, priorities, and relationships?


10. There is an old colloquialism, "When God closes a door, he opens a window." Discuss this idea in light of the finality of Sam's relationship with Aubrey and the blossoming friendship with Mary Grace.
    


11. Is there someone in your life who you may have idolized (i.e. placed more emphasis on their presence in your life than God's presence)? Idolatry is a frightening word, and it can apply to many areas in our lives today. How can you tell the difference between loving someone because God has called you for that purpose, and holding that person in a position of idolatry? What does Isaiah 44:6-23 say about idolatry?
    


12. What miracles did you observe in the story? Do you believe in present day miracles? Why or why not? What miraculous "coincidences" have you witnessed or been a part of?