Discussion Guide
Reclaiming “Enough”
Away from Scarcity Toward True Abundance
Catalina Morales Bahena and Dr. Cherice L. Bock
We have found the metaphor of dirt and soil a helpful way to wrestle with this topic, perhaps rooted in our own particular stories with the land we now call home. Soil is needed for us to live: it grows and nourishes everything we eat, grows trees that help us breathe, and enables the decomposition process—our bodies become soil again after we die. Soil teems with life… true abundance. Dirt, on the other hand, is what results when we use up the nutrients in the soil without giving the soil time to keep up. When we try to create constant abundance by overworking the soil, we end up with scarcity: we’re left with only dirt.
SETTING THE TABLE
For 5 minutes, journal about your understanding of scarcity and abundance as you grew up. What were you taught by your community, your congregation, your family, or through your education about what was enough or what wasn’t enough?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
- Do you relate to Cherice or Catalina’s experience of scarcity and abundance? Share part of your story with themes of this chapter with your group.
- As you reflect on your congregation or a community you are a part of, what examples of scarcity do you experience? What examples of abundance?
- Name one way scarcity shows up in your life. Name one way you could begin to change that towards abundance and “enough.”
- Is it possible to live an abundant life that doesn’t require scarcity somewhere else, for someone else, or in the future?
- What does that abundant life look like?
CLOSING
What is the “low-hanging fruit” step you could take for yourself and/or your congregation in response to this discussion today?
A low hanging fruit is something you could easily do this coming week.
Given this theme and your context; what is one “moonshot” you could imagine?
A moon shot is a giant leap into relationship and connection that would require monumental effort but be totally amazing.