study and discussion guide - cokesbury | home · 2009-06-05 · gone to green study &...

Study and Discussion Guide

Gone to Green

by Judy Christie

Study & diScuSSion Guide

Gone to Green, by Judy Christie (Abingdon Press, copyright 2009)

Permission is granted to reproduce this study & discussion guide.

Gone to Green Study & Discussion Guide 4

Gone to Green companion Study Guide

for readinG GroupS

Gone to Green can be used by groups for in-depth study and discussion. This study is intended to help readers go deeper in learning about God’s plan for their lives and how each person can make a difference in the world, no matter where they live or what they do. Using lessons from main character Lois Barker and others in the book, this study helps readers consider their own lives and faith journeys – having fun along the way.

Using the book’s twenty chapters as a resource, the guide provides for each chapter:

A related Scripture →A related Devotion →A reading group lesson with discussion questions →A bit of “lagniappe,” as they say down in Green … a little →something extra, including a Louisiana recipe for each lesson.

Can a big-city journalist change a small town or will the townspeople change her forever? In Gone to Green, Lois Barker trades her corporate life at a large paper in the Midwest for the ownership of The Green News-Item, a twice-weekly newspaper in rural North Louisiana. She must deal with doubts and fear, bat-tle prejudice and financial corruption – while trying to figure out her own path.


Judy Christie is the author of Gone to Green, her debut novel and the first of a series of three stories set on Route 2 in rural North Louisiana. Judy loves to help people hurry less and worry less and has written a series of nonfic-tion books on how to slow down and enjoy each day more. A former jour-nalist, she lives in Louisiana, where she has fun exploring flea markets and used bookstores, wandering

through the park and sitting in the porch swing.

In her own words:

“Gone to Green was inspired by my observations of life in the South, years as a journalist, and people I’ve encountered. For decades, I knew I wanted to write a novel set in the South. I am always thinking about book ideas and constantly taking notes. I carry a notebook with me everywhere and keep a variety of journals.”


SuGGeStionS for Group LeaderS

The study is planned for four weeks, discussing five chap-ters of Gone to Green each week. It can be modified easily if you want to extend it or do it more quickly. It can be used for a small group, adult or youth Vacation Bible School study, or Sunday school class. Each session can last from one hour to an hour-and-a-half, depending on the amount of time you allow for discussion. Participants should read the chapters in advance to prepare for the discussion.

Be on hand early to greet members and welcome visitors. Some groups enjoy taking turns bringing snacks or a light meal. You might want consider a southern theme for your meals – or ask participants to bring food that reflects the region they are from. This practice can help build a close spirit in the group and help newcomers relax as the group gathers.

Open each session with prayer, asking for God’s presence in the discussion. Invite group discussion all along the way, but do not try to force anyone to share. As the weeks unfold, you will likely find that members are more eager to open up. Lois’s story is one of hope amidst the struggles of daily life, and participants are encouraged to have fun with their examination life in Green!


a SampLe SeSSion

Open with prayer and have casual conversation with your →group, chatting as participants settle. Ask individuals to share the “news” from their lives since the group last gathered.Direct participants to the lesson plan, using this as an out- →line for the class.Focus on the theme/human condition that the chapters →illuminate and the related scripture at the beginning of each chapter as the group starts. Ask someone to read the scrip-ture aloud.Give the related devotional, contained in the lesson plan. →(You might want to consider asking different class mem-bers to give the devotional story each week for variety.)Begin the discussion with the “To consider” overview. →Lead the group in answering and discussing the study questions.Assign chapters to be read before the next meeting. →End the session with prayer requests and a prayer for God’s →guidance for each person as you seek to know and do the Lord’s will.


readinG Group LeSSon pLan for chapterS 1-5

Topic: God is with us through all the twists and turns of life.

Related Scripture: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” -- Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Devotional: Most people get on airplanes with trust in the pilot and the equipment. While there may be a white knuckle or two, passengers know that when the plane goes into the clouds, radar takes over and the plane continues on course. Even when the ground is indistinguishable and vision totally blocked, the pilot is calm and sure. The passengers are not yelling at or pleading with the pilot, telling him or her to hurry up. We wait for the pilot to do what he or she knows how to do, and we land safely. Many times I have wished trust were that easy in every-day life. For some reason, we find ourselves predisposed not to trust that things will work out right. Instead, we lean toward believing that, in fact, anything that can go wrong will. Getting past this negative thinking and trusting that things will work out in marvelous ways is an intriguing part of the journey to less hurry and worry. (From Judy Christie’s book Hurry Less, Worry Less:10 Strategies for Living the Life You Long For)

To consider in the lesson: The main character in Gone to Green is Lois Barker, the city editor of a big newspaper in the


Midwest. As the book opens, she is unsettled, not sure she is on the right path for her life.

Within weeks, major changes occur – including the death of her friend and colleague, her promotion to his former job, the surprise news that he has left her a tiny newspaper in North Louisiana and her more surprising decision to go to Green for a year.

She needs reassurance that she is doing the right thing when nothing turns out as she expects.

diScuSSion QueStionS

Chapter 1: Why does Lois feel as though her life is a bit stale as the book opens? What is missing for her? Lois seems to feel as though she is too busy to make a change in her life. Do you think individuals ever miss God’s plans for them because they are rushing in too many directions? What word would you use to describe Lois in this chapter?

Chapter 2: Ed’s unexpected “gift” confuses Lois. What causes her misgivings? Is it a mixed blessing for Ed to pass along a business with strings attached? Have you ever been thrilled and upset by the same event? How does God use such events to shape us? At the end of this chapter, Lois whispers, “help.” Did Lois utter this as a prayer? Have you ever turned to God in desperation? How did God guide you?

Chapter 3: Lois is planning to go one way with her career when the word “go” pops into her mind, and then “I’ll help you.” A few minutes later she gives her notice and heads south. Why do you think Lois decides to move to Green? Do you

Gone to Green Study & Discussion Guide

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think she wants to move, or is this a divine nudge? Does God speak to people like Lois about their future? Have you ever been prompted by God to change directions?

Chapter 4: As Lois begins work at the Green News-Item she is full of doubts. What are some of the everyday things that bother her? How does she handle these? When you make changes in life, how do you adjust? Can you recall an instance when God guided you through a big transition? What advice might you give Lois after her first few hours at the newspaper?

Chapter 5: The house on Route 2 where Lois can live rent-free is not what she expects. How does it differ? Might it be the right place for her? Have you ever had something happen that seemed “wrong” at the time, but turns out right? One of the first people Lois gets to know in Green is Pastor Jean at Grace Community Chapel. In what ways are Jean and Lois alike? How might this encounter be important to Lois?

LaGniappe (a LittLe SomethinG extra) Mama’s Tea Cakes

An example of the many desserts dropped off for Lois after her arrival in Green. This recipe comes from Judy Christie’s mom. They are delicious with a cup of coffee!

“Mix 1 quart plain flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 tea-spoon soda, 2 cups sugar, 2 whole eggs, ½ cup buttermilk. Cut in ½ cup shortening as if making biscuits. Use extra flour to make stiff dough. Roll out very thin. Place in shallow pan. Cook in 450-degree oven. Any flavoring, generally nutmeg.”


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Lois has to learn a lot about Louisiana in a short amount →of time. If you’d like to know more about this unique and wonderful state, go to http://www.state.la.us/Explore/About_Louisiana/Many changes are occurring in the newspaper industry, →including more online news and the closure of some large daily newspapers. Smaller papers, such as the Green News-Item, rely on local-local news where community members see themselves reflected in coverage. For an inside look at the newspaper business, see www.poynter.org. For more on the author and tips to enjoy each day more, →see www.judychristie.com

additionaL reSourceS

Hurry Less, Worry Less: 10 Strategies for Living the Life You Long For, also by Judy Christie, a nonfiction book to help you slow down and enjoy each day more. It offers practical ideas and strategies to help you begin your own path toward change.

The Fence My Father Built by Linda Clare. If you enjoyed read-ing about Lois and her battles in Green, you might also enjoy this novel, set in central Oregon, about misperceptions sur-rounding Native Americans and a man’s half-white daughter. She tries to reunite with him but finds him just after his death. This book explores the real meaning of family.


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Topic: When we open ourselves to God’s power, amazing things can happen.

Related Scripture: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick

up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” John 5:8-9 NIV

Devotional: The Gospel of John tells a fascinating story about an invalid who lies by a healing pool in Jerusalem with many other disabled people each day. Jesus sees the man and learns that he has been in this condition for nearly four decades. As the scene unfolds, Jesus asks an unusual question: “Do you want to get well?” The man does not answer that question. Instead he says he is unable to get into the healing pool; he has no one to carry him; and when he tries to get in, someone else always gets in front of him. What Jesus does next shows what can hap-pen in our lives when we are open to the power of God. Christ tells him to pick up his mat and walk, and the man is cured. This story reminds us that God is ready to do amazing things in our lives. To take advantage of these opportunities, we, like the man by the pool, must prepare for what God has for us and be in a place where we can encounter Christ. Get ready for amaz-ing things! (Adapted from Judy Christie’s book Goodbye, Murphy’s Law: Whatever Can Go Wrong, God Can Make Right)

To consider in the lesson: Journalist Lois Barker, the main character in Gone to Green, is trying to settle into the com-munity of Green and realizes that things are not always the way


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they seem. She finds herself questioning the direction of her life – questions for which she does not have answers. She yearns for something but is not ready to open herself to God’s power. When she first attends worship at Grace Community Chapel, she tries to distance herself from the people and the message.


Chapter 6: The first edition of her newspaper excites and scares Lois, who likes feeling in control. What are her strengths as she enters this new role? What are her weaknesses? Have you ever tried so hard to be in control of a situation that you have actually made it worse? How might allowing God to have more control change Lois? What insights does Lois get about the people of Green in this chapter? How might these help her settle in?

Chapter 7: Lois encounters Pearl Taylor at the Lakeside

Motel and is caught off guard. Why is this encounter a surprise to her? What is she discovering about herself? At the newspa-per, she finds a history of the Green News-Item that shows its gradual decline, raising more fears about owning the paper for a year. What is the mood of this chapter? How is Lois handling her concerns?

Chapter 8: Lois feels totally out of place during the church service at Grace Community Chapel. Why is she uneasy? Have you had a time when you felt out of place when visiting a church? Why is it sometimes difficult for people to get involved in a new church? How might churches make visitors feel welcome?

Chapter 9: Having dinner with the Taylors is both a warm and unsettling experience. What is positive about the evening? What is troubling? What do Dr. Kevin and Lois have in com-


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mon, and how are they different? Do you have a memory of a delicious, friendly meal like the one in this chapter -- a time when you were happy to settle around the table with friends or family?

Chapter 10: Lois finally begins to settle into the house on Route 2 in this chapter. Why has it taken her so long? What is the catalyst when it happens? What has been your experience with times of transition? Do you think change is tiring or ener-gizing? Is there a special home in your life where you have felt safe and relaxed? If so, what made it such a place?

LaGniappe (a LittLe SomethinG extra) About the biscuits Miss Pearl served Lois

during the wonderful supper at the Taylor home

Those delicious biscuits, made from scratch, are a key part of a great southern meal, served at breakfast, lunch or supper. It’s hard to find a true recipe for them because a great cook just makes them from memory.

This wonderful account of how such biscuits are made was shared by dear friend Sarah Leachman, who grew up in Ashland, La., and watched her mama, Estelle Bumgardner, make these for decades before her death:

“Mother didn’t have a recipe. She first melted oil (preferably left over bacon grease) in her round biscuit pans that had been seasoned from many years of use.

“She used an old large round bowl (not very deep because you didn’t want to have to reach down very far) with flour left over from the day before lining the bowl. She sifted self-rising flour (had to be self-rising) on top of the leftover flour from the day before.


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“Mother never measured, just sifted until she knew she had enough flour and then made a large hole in the middle of the flour with her fist and filled that hole with fresh buttermilk. To that mixture she added a large pinch of baking soda (not baking powder) and a pinch of salt and then poured in some of the oil from the pan.

“All this was mixed carefully and lovingly with her hands (never with a spoon).

“I can see her now swirling that mixture of dough around in that bowl. With every swirl a little more flour was added to the mixture. When she had gotten just the right amount of flour mixed in, she carefully pinched off a large portion of that dough and rolled it in her palms (very lightly). She would care-fully place that biscuit in the greased pan and get grease on that side of the biscuit and then turn the biscuit over so the other side would get oiled.

“These were baked around 375 degrees for probably 20 minutes. You could just look at them and tell when they were done.

“When I was home, it was always my job to butter the bis-cuits. Every biscuit in both pans was buttered (never skimping on the butter). Those biscuits were so delicious they could just be eaten by themselves right out of the oven.

“In my mind, I can see Mother now in that old, cold kitchen, making those biscuits at the kitchen cabinet. How I would love to have another one of that those hot biscuits and sit down at the table and visit with Mother and Daddy.”


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Lois is perplexed when she meets Chris Craig and realizes →he raises catfish. To learn more about this fascinating busi-ness, check out http://www.uscatfish.com. This is a great site with some wonderful recipes, in case you decide to cook up your own mess of fish!Lois moves into an old country cottage on Route 2. Her →house is similar to many you see while driving the back roads of Louisiana. Want to stay in a Louisiana home or inn sometime? Take a look at http://www.louisianabandb.com/For more on the author and tips to enjoy each day more, see →www.judychristie.com

additionaL reSource

The issue of the housing development on Bayou Lake arises in coverage in The Green News-Item and in the concerns of the neighborhood association. A fascinating documentary about wetlands, development and other environmental issues is Greg MacGillivray’s Hurricane on the Bayou, an IMAX film shown around the country and also available for purchase or rental from a variety of sources.


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Topic: God provides wisdom for us to do what we are called to do.

Related Scripture: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should

ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5-6 NIV

Devotional: At times life can feel as though you are stand-ing on a pier, with one foot in a boat. You have to decide if you are going to stay put or jump in the boat—and if you don’t make the right decision at the right time, you could wind up in the water. You may find yourself at a turning point, desperate to make a decision. Be open to God’s guidance into new territory. God reaches out to bless us in ways that are beyond our imagi-nation and gives us wisdom for the journey. Trust God for each next step, knowing divine help will be there. Ours is a dynamic world, changing along the way. We are to walk faithfully and prayerfully and to be a blessing to others, just as we have been blessed. (Adapted from Judy Christie’s book Hurry Less, Worry Less at Work, a Fall 2009 Abingdon Press release.)

To consider in the lesson: The little community of Green changes Lois. Lois changes Green. She begins to see new sides to her personality and to tackle challenges in new ways. Lois


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also must battle prejudice and financial corruption, reminders of the challenges that people face in their everyday lives.

As she deals with these issues, she must seek wisdom and look for new solutions to old problems.


Chapter 11: People in Green often are reluctant to try some-thing because they tried it before and it did not work. How does Lois handle this? Have you ever encountered this mindset? How have you handled it? Do you find it easy to make changes in your life or work? Have you ever gotten tangled up in change?

Chapter 12: Aunt Helen calls Lois a “firecracker,” a new

description for the journalist. Do you think Lois is a trouble-maker in Green, as some people believe? How is her life and reputation different because of her job at the newspaper? Have you ever felt misunderstood when trying to make something happen? How did you handle it?

Chapter 13: The heat and humidity of Louisiana in August shocks Lois and leads to an interesting investigative report with Katy. How does the high school student blossom in this summer heat? Why is the relationship between Katy and Iris Jo important? Can you think of someone who has helped you through a difficult time?

Chapter 14: Lois goes “home” to Ohio and visits with her best friend, Marti. Why does this trip create conflict within Lois? Have you ever had a time when going home didn’t feel the way you expected? If so, what did you learn from that expe-rience? What do you think led Pastor Jean to stop by Lois’s cot-


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tage to visit at the end of this chapter? Have you ever wondered if you had intuition or felt a nudging to help a friend?

Chapter 15: While seeking peace within, Lois faces tur-bulence with a big news story about corruption. How does her public life affect her personal life? Is Major Wilson a bad person? What do he and Lois have in common and how do they differ? Lois wants specific direction on what she is to do with her life. Have you ever felt that way, having mixed feelings about what to do and wanting more specifics?

LaGniappe (a LittLe SomethinG extra) Want wonderful passalong plants for your yard?

The beauty of Louisiana in spring overwhelms Lois. Her yard is full of gorgeous plants, another change in her life from her one-potted-plant-on-the-patio days. North Louisiana gar-dening expert Kathie Rowell is a big fan of old-fashioned plants and those plants that are shared among family and friends, sim-ilar to what Lois finds in her yard.

To add some oomph to a Southern garden, Kathie recom-mends passing these plants along:

Hydrangeas Jonquils, Roses, Spider lilies, Day lilies, Irises, Crinums, Phlox, Moonvines, Gardenias

For more information on gardening in North Louisiana, including Kathie’s blog that will make you want to go out and plant something, take a look at Dig This, the gardening site of The Times in Shreveport. See http://www.shreveporttimes.com/section/GARDENING


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Rose and Linda are trying to develop their antique business, →and Lois enjoys stopping by to shop and give them a pointer or two. For a fun day of antiquing in East Texas, just up the road from Green, try out Jefferson, Texas, http://www.jefferson-texas.com/, Gladewater, Texas, http://www.texas-escapes.com/TOWNS/Gladewater/Gladewater.html,or check out the huge First Monday flea market each month →in Canton, Texas -- http://www.firstmondaycanton.com/ Wear comfortable shoes! For more on the author and tips to enjoy each day more, →see www.judychristie.com


Suck Your Stomach In and Put Some Color On! What Southern Mamas Tell Their Daughters that the Rest of Y’all Should Know Too by Shellie Rushing Tomlinson (published 2008, Berkeley Trade). If you want to know more about Southern women, take a look at Shellie’s fun book. Shellie lives over in Northeast Louisiana and takes a fresh look at small-town life in her weekly radio show, “All Things Southern.” You can find her on the web at www.allthingsouthern.com.

Mary Randolph Carter is the author of some of my favorite books on antiques and antiquing – or junking. Her books are filled with the kinds of items you might find in the Holey Moley Antique Mall in Green. Take a look at American Junk, Garden Junk and Kitchen Junk for some armchair fun or to plan your next jaunt!


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Topic: Being part of a loving community makes life more meaningful.

Related Scripture: “Two are better than one, because they

have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV

Devotional: A common sight on lakes in rural north Louisiana is the snowy egret, a tall and slender white bird with a very skinny neck. This bird stalks slowly at the water’s edge, keenly watching for a fish for lunch. The bird’s intensity is extreme, his focus unwavering. He stares and stares and stares and—zap! Lunch is served as he catches a fish and gulps it down. The egret’s attention to what he wants and the steady

approach to get it is effective. So it can be with enjoying each day more. First we decide what we want our life to look like. Then we figure out the steps to take to make it look like that. We focus. Remember: First the what, then the how. Take a few minutes to think about what you really want. Set a joy goal, and go for it, calling on friends and family to help you along the way. And help them right back! (Adapted from Judy Christie’s book Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmastime.)

To consider in the lesson: Lois must decide whether she will keep The Green News-Item or sell it. She must decide whether


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she wants to run a bigger newspaper or try another career. And she must decide if she will leave her new friends behind.

During her year in Green, she encounters a host of fascinat-ing characters who change her life. Some of these relationships are hard – people who are selfish and mean. But others are rich and full, good people who believe in Lois and what she is doing with her life. They see something special in her.


Chapter 16: Aunt Helen believes Lois she is running from God. What does she mean by that? Do you think it is true? Is it clear what Lois should do with her life? How would you describe the journey she is on? Have you ever had a time when you didn’t do something you thought you were supposed to do?

Chapter 17: A tragedy occurs in Lois’s life in this chapter. In what ways did Helen guide Lois? How did Lois help Helen? Have you ever had an older mentor? What did that person bring to your life? Why do you think Lois is able to be friends with such a range of people, from young Katy to Aunt Helen?

Chapter 18: As the friendship deepens between Lois and Chris, decisions become more complicated. Why is Chris important in Lois’s life? And why does he need her? They’ve lived near each other for nearly a year but are just getting to know each other. Why is that? Do we sometimes put barri-ers between ourselves and others? How do relationships affect Lois’s decisions throughout the book?

Chapter 19: Dr. Kevin is troubled by low-income housing in Green and the need to help others. How is her meeting with


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Lois similar to the meeting with Ed at the beginning of the book? Is Lois a catalyst for change, or does she wait for change to occur? The Green’s Gift to Green celebration is a way to show how much community members care. Have you ever been involved in an effort like that in your church or neighborhood? Is there an opportunity for you and others to serve your com-munity now?

Chapter 20: Lois asks God for help as she tries to make her big decision at the end of Gone to Green. How is this decision similar to the one she makes when Ed dies? How is it differ-ent? What has Lois learned during her stay in Green? Do you think she makes the right decision at the end of the book? What advice would you give her about how to move forward? What would you like to see her do next?

LaGniappe (a LittLe SomethinG extra) A Church Member’s Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Members of Grace Community Chapel regularly bring Pastor Jean homemade food, which she shares with Lois during some of their therapeutic visits! This recipe for chocolate syrup is a favorite – can be saved and used as needed. It came from my Aunt Jean, who died of breast cancer. Pastor Jean is named in her memory.

½ cup Cocoa 1 cup Water2 cups Sugar ⅛ tsp. Salt¼ tsp. VanillaMix cocoa and water in a saucepan; stir to dissolve cocoa;

heat to blend the cocoa and water. Add sugar, stirring to dis-solve sugar. Boil for 3 minutes; add salt and vanilla.

Pour into clean sterilized pint jar.


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A wonderful town to visit in North Louisiana is Natchitoches. →The oldest town in the Louisiana Purchase, it has wonderful brick streets, a great little bookstore, other neat shops, some fantastic food and charm galore. Famous for its Christmas celebration, it is also a great place to visit in the cooler days of fall and the gorgeous days of spring. To learn more about Natchitoches, see http://www.natchitoches.net/index.php Tom brings a turducken to the big party at Lois’s house on →Route 2. Want to know more about turduckens, a Louisiana holiday delicacy? Take a look at http://tabasco.com/taste_tent/menu_planning/letstalkturkey_hist.cfmFor more on the author and tips to enjoy each day more, see →www.judychristie.com


Lois has a bit of a rocky Christmas in Gone to Green but she hopes for a better New Year. For tips on this time of year, take a look at Hurry Less, Worry Less at Christmastime, also by Judy Christie, a nonfiction book to help you celebrate more joyfully, peacefully, and deeply during “the holiday season”—the days between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day—and on through the Christian celebration of Epiphany.

Gone to Green is the first of a three-part series on Green, Louisiana. Look for Goodness Gracious Green, to be released in 2010! These novels are part of the launch of a new line of Christian fiction from Abingdon Press. For information on other great books see http://abingdonpress.com/forms/fiction.aspx


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GeneraL diScuSSion QueStionS for Gone to Green

1. Gone to Green is told in first-person through the character of Lois Barker. How would you describe Lois to a friend? What are her best characteristics, and where does she falter?

2. Early in the story, an unexpected “gift” from a colleague con-fuses Lois. What causes her misgivings? Is it a mixed blessing for Ed to pass along a business with strings attached? Did he believe Lois would move down south? Have you ever been thrilled and upset by the same event?

3. Lois makes an important choice early in Gone to Green, set-ting in motion a variety of other changes. How might things have turned out if Lois had chosen to stay in Dayton? Why do you think Lois decides to move to Green? Do you find life’s deci-sions are usually clear-cut or require a struggle? How do you make decisions?

4. The community of Green plays a key part in this story. How would you describe the town to someone about to visit? What is special about it? What needs improvement? What is the role of downtown?

5. Green changes Lois, and she changes the town. In what ways does it have the greatest impact on her life? How does she most change the community? List some of the changes that occur in Gone to Green and consider how you might have handled them. Do you find it easy to deal with change? Have you ever gotten tangled up in change? Is Lois bothered by change?


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6. If you were a community correspondent for The Green News-Item, what would you write about? What does Lois’s attitude about Green tell us about her as a person?

7. Living out on Route 2 affects Lois in unexpected ways. What might have been different had she lived in a new condo on the lake? How is her rural neighborhood a community-within-a-com-munity? Do you think that people differ by region?

8. As the owner of the newspaper, Lois encounters a host of chal-lenges. If she were not a journalist, how might her life as a Green newcomer have been different? What are the biggest obstacles she faces?

9. Lois gets to know a variety of people in Green, including young Katy, Aunt Helen, Dr. Kevin Taylor, Eva Hillburn, Pastor Jean, Walt, and Chris. How does each influence Lois?

10. In what ways are Dub and Chuck McCuller, Lee Roy Hicks, and Major Wilson similar and how do they differ? What impact do they have on Lois?

11. How would you describe the journey Lois is on? What parts do career, geography, relationships, and spirituality play in it? Have you considered how different areas of your life affect one another?

12. What advice might you give Lois as her journey continues? Are there areas in your life where you might want or need to grow or change? What will Lois have to deal with as she continues to develop?

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