Maureen Lang

1.    The villagers of Briecourt are separated by a long-standing feud, the origin of which no one seems to recall. Have you ever known anyone who has held a grudge against someone for so long that they can’t recall what broke the relationship?

2.    When Julitte is unable to help Victor, she feels as though she’s failed. She seems angry with God for not giving her a gift that would benefit others. Have you ever felt dissatisfied with the gifts God has given you?

3.    Both Ori and Julitte long to get married, but they handle the pursuit of that goal in different ways. What factor do you think played the biggest role in the way each woman allowed herself to fall in love?

4.    Though Julitte and Ori have a strong friendship at the beginning of the story, Ori’s actions—specifically her developing relationship with Hauptmann Basedow—build a barrier between the two. How did you feel about the way Julitte handled this? Have you ever witnessed a friend make the wrong decisions? What advice would you give Julitte?

5.    How did you see Charles change as the story progressed? What made him go from self-admitted cowardice during the battle he witnesses to being able to jump from an airplane (albeit terrified to do so)?

6.    Toward the end of the story Julitte no longer receives her visions of Heaven. Like any relationship, things between her and God seem to change. Do you think this was a change for the better, or worse? How have you seen your own relationship with God change over time?

7.    The villagers were eager to attribute a miracle to Julitte when her brother survived the near-drowning.  What about her made it so easy for them to label her a miracle worker?

8.    Misplaced faith is one of the themes throughout this story. The villagers misplaced their faith from God as the author of miracles, to Julitte. Ori placed her faith in a man’s love to make her happy. And before Charles was tested by this war, he’d placed his faith in himself. How often do you see yourself or others misplacing faith? What do you place it on instead of God?

9.    Please read 2 Kings 7. In this chapter you’ll notice the starving lepers were overjoyed to find bread left behind by the soldiers who had deserted the encampment. Has anything in your life reminded you of how God worked in the lives of the people in the Bible? Do you ever see a parallel in Biblical stories to things that happen today?

10.    Julitte doesn’t chafe against the poverty of her circumstances, but she does hint at being familiar with the allure of wealth (imagining herself being properly introduced to Charles and conversing as equals in society). However she admits her upbringing and the examples set by both biological and adoptive parents suggested humble lifestyles were the better choice. Do you believe, like Narcisse reminded Julitte, that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to be saved? Why, or why not? What struggles do you think Julitte will face because of the life of wealth that’s offered to her through both Charles and her biological grandfather?

11.    Waiting is a continual thread in this story. Have you ever felt frustrated by the Lord’s timeline in your life?