Season 1, Episode 9 – Speaking Faith During the Holidays: A Special Episode about How we Relate to One Another

Discussion/Journaling Questions

1. Ideal Thanksgiving: Reflect on your vision of an ideal Thanksgiving gathering. What does a perfect day look like for you? How would it differ from your typical Thanksgiving experience?
2. Anticipating Challenges: What are some recurring challenges or patterns you expect at your Thanksgiving gatherings? How might you prepare yourself mentally and emotionally to handle these challenges in a positive way?
3. Changing the Narrative: How can you change the narrative of a potentially contentious situation at Thanksgiving? Consider an example where you might respond differently to a challenging comment or behavior.
4. Practicing Hospitality: Bishop DeDe speaks about Benedictine hospitality. How can you practice hospitality, both as a guest and as a host, to create a welcoming and loving environment at Thanksgiving?
5. Curiosity and Compassion: Reflect on a time when you felt the need to assert your point of view strongly. How could you approach similar situations with more curiosity and compassion instead of confrontation?
6. Setting Boundaries: What boundaries might you need to set to protect yourself or your family from harmful behavior during Thanksgiving? How can you communicate these boundaries in a respectful and loving manner?
7. Embracing Imperfection: Thanksgiving can bring up grief and unspoken issues. How can you embrace the imperfections and challenges of the day with grace and understanding?
8. Role of Faith: How can your faith or spiritual beliefs guide your actions and responses during Thanksgiving? Consider how prayer or spiritual practices might influence your experience.
9. Redirecting Conversations: Bishop DeDe suggests redirecting conversations away from contentious topics. How can you gently steer conversations towards subjects that foster connection and positivity?
10. Creating Safe Spaces: What are some strategies you can use to create a safe space for meaningful interactions and connection at Thanksgiving, especially when faced with conflicting viewpoints or discomfort?
11. Acknowledging Loss: How might you acknowledge and honor any recent losses or grief during Thanksgiving in a way that is sensitive to everyone at the table?
12. Strength in Love: Reflect on the idea that true strength is found in love and compassion rather than in winning arguments. How can you embody this understanding in your interactions during Thanksgiving?

AI Disclosure: To support our small staff in their limited time, many of our episode discussion questions are first generated by AI and then edited and refined by staff members to be in line with our podcast goals and our diocesan vision and mission.