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Lesson OneIntroduction to SoulCare: Getting Started on the Journey3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwoThe First Task in Learning to Provide SoulCare: Knowing What You're After and What It Takes to Get There3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeA Personal Search: Beginning with an Inside Look3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FourThe Concept of Ruling Passions: What Energy Carries You into the Life of Another3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FiveBrokenness: The Key to Releasing the Power of SoulCare3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson SixThe Good and the Bad in the Human Soul: Self-Need vs. Soul-Thirst3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson SevenEntering the Battle for Another's Soul: The First Step3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson EightWisdom: A Roadmap for Entering the Soul Without Getting Lost3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson NineGetting into the Battle: Moving Below the Waterline from the Presenting Problem to the Story of the Soul3 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TenAgents of Growth: What SoulCare Can Do in Our Lives3 Activities1 Assessment
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity1 Assessment
Participants 599
Discussion Questions
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Dr. Crabb talks about our tendency to keep relationships shallow using the image of “not turning our chairs toward one another.” Why is it so difficult for us to “turn our chairs”? In other words, why are we reluctant to let anyone really know us? As you think about your answer, consider these possible reasons: Don’t have time. Don’t want to get involved. Don’t care. Feel inadequate and awkward. Don’t know how to form deeper relationships. Not culturally acceptable. Explain several possible reasons (using your own or from the list above) and then give an example from your experience that demonstrates which reason most often keeps you from turning your chair towards others.
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Fear of what others may think or say, rejection
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As human beings we don’t want to be hurt. And by exposing ourselves in a deep way to someone else, that can happen. That happened to me when I was a teenager. I completely opened up to someone, and they in turn shared that with others. That left a lasting impression on me.
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It can be difficult because we are concerned about being hurt, if we decide to be vulnerable with someone else.
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I think a pastor must have had a similar idea at one time. Because, there was a weekend that he talked on this topic. He titled this turning of chairs as “heart to heart talk”. He said if you want to connect with another person then the hearts need to face one another. Ever since then I try to notice if someone is turned away when they are talking to me. If it is someone or a topic I want to carry in my soul afterwards I do request (sometimes, depending on the person and topic: I will insist) that they turn their heart and posture towards me. I also have been known to admit that I can process what they are saying better if I can see their lips when they are communicating with me. I can admit that if I were the one opening up to another person, I struggle with full eye contact and being as vulnerable to share myself with another person. I feel very drained and tired afterwards usually if I do face them while I am the one in need of emptying up my struggles. I am still working on improving this with myself as it may be due to personal reasons that I need to still discover and pray thru the process to fully heal and grow from.
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It’s really hard for me because my tendency is to go into fix it mode. So it’s easier to not put myself in that position or feel the pressure of not being able to fix. So, fear. I do care and feel inadequate and awkward. I don’t know also what is required of me. I want to be a friend who turns my chair, but the internal struggle gets in the way.
