1. Elizabeth missed Carleton deeply, yet she chose to stay in New York and remain faithful to her commitment to Washington to spy on the British. Did she do the right thing? Have you ever been faced with a similar choice? What was your response and the result?

2. Pieter Vander Groot was an admirable person and very compatible with Elizabeth personally and spiritually. Have you ever wrestled with making a choice between two alternatives that on the surface appeared to be equally good? How did you decide which was God’s will for you?

3. Should White Eagle have been honest with Red Fox and Spotted Pony about his real reasons for not taking Blue Sky as his wife? Have you ever been in a situation where it seemed better not to tell the whole truth? What happened because of your decision?

4. White Eagle agreed to lead the war against the white settlers to protect his people, only to have his actions judged to be barbaric. Have you ever struggled to do the right thing, and then had your actions and motives misjudged and criticized as a result?

5. In light of the Native Americans’ subsequent history, do you think they were justified in trying to keep Whites out of their ancestral territories?

6. The night before the Battle of Brooklyn, convinced that Howe meant to turn the American left flank, Elizabeth took matters into her own hands instead of reporting to Colonel Stern as ordered. What was the result of her disobedience, both good and bad? Have you ever disobeyed someone who was in authority over you because you were convinced they were wrong? What were the consequences?

7. How did Elizabeth’s and Andrews’s attitude toward the Shawnee and toward White Eagle’s actions change after their arrival at Grey Cloud’s Town? Have you ever had the opportunity to learn that things were not as they seemed on the surface?

8. Andrews also loved Elizabeth deeply, but he chose to honor her relationship with Carleton. Blue Sky made the same decision in spite of her desire for White Eagle. Have you ever made a similar sacrifice? What was the outcome?

9. Wolfslayer rejected every attempt White Eagle made to settle their differences peacefully. Have you ever been in a situation where it was difficult or even impossible to be a peacemaker? What did you do?

10. Great Owl’s unexpected arrival brought back the nightmare of Carleton’s capture by the Seneca. Where did he find strength to stand against his enemies when all hope appeared lost? Have you ever faced a situation that seemed completely hopeless? What did you do?

11. White Eagle faced another wrenching decision in returning to the Americans with Elizabeth and Andrews. Readjustment to white society was very difficult for him. Has it ever been necessary for you to move far away from your home and family when you wanted very much to stay in a familiar environment? How did you handle adjusting to a new community and new friendships?

12. Carleton inherited slaves when his uncle, Sir Harry, died. What was his initial attitude toward owning human beings, and how did it change when he experienced slavery among the Seneca? How did he finally resolve this issue?

13. In the Declaration of Independence, the members of Congress acknowledged that all people are created equal, yet many of our Founders owned slaves. What was the ultimate result of this tension between their expressed ideals and the reality of slavery? Do you struggle with prejudices against people who are outwardly different from you? If so, what would God have you to do?

Excerpted from Wind of the Spirit © Copyright 2012 by J. M. Hochstetler. Reprinted with permission by Sheaf House Books. All rights reserved.