1. Essentials of the living quarters
2. Interpretation of the image

Whoever has been touched by the love of God will face the lingering question, "How can I respond to such love’?  Love is total and, therefore, also directs us totally.  The response to true love can only be made by loving in return with a love that draws to itself more and more our entire being, indeed all dimensions of life.

 
This fourth section revolves around this question and the search for such a response to love.  This section looks at the full range of life and the different ways in which everyday life unfolds.  This section offers not only three exercise weeks as the previous sections have done, but five.  The eleventh exercise "week" is divided into three variations (options) from which we can chose to take up one or all three.

First let us develop the image as parable and symbol.

- If we want to enlarge and furnish the living quarters of a house we must first clarify the question of ownership.  Is this house or apartment our own property which we can manage according to our own wishes?  Do we occupy our living area as one who rents or subleases, or does it offer the option of shared living, such as happens when the owner and the renter agree on a partnership?

As a co-occupant of the house, in whatever form, we will, under certain conditions, also be able to influence the way in which the living area is arranged.  To what must we pay attention in this case?  How do we imagine ourselves living in these quarters and where do we want to place the emphasis? Do we prefer a large children's room or do we need something like a work room, a library or a studio?   We will be able to arrange the living quarters according to our own interests only so far as it agrees with the overall concept of the owner of the house.  This eliminates several possibilities from the outset.

Finally, we must ask the owner of the house to provide the construction materials for remodeling that we cannot supply ourselves.  When a house community which strives for a common life style is involved, then we need not be timid in coming to the owner with this request. Only then will we be able to  fulfill our tasks meaningfully and suitably in this house.

Comment:
Out of the many  possible aspects that this image, "Building the living quarters"  offers, only those which in view of the total structure of the book ("building a spiritual house")  commend themselves  will be selected.

- How can we say who the "owner of the house" actually is without a visual image?  What place does God really have in our life ?  And what place do we want God to have?  In the first chapter of the Gospel of John it says, "He came to his own home, and his own people received him not" (vers. 11).   God doesn't force Godself on us, but leaves it up to us which space we give over to God "in the house of our life".  When we give God "tenure rights" that happens in complete freedom, in the freedom of love.  This is the focus of the tenth week.

- When we take on property ownership with the option of not being an independent "property owner", but rather an "administrator", "subtenant", "renter" or perhaps even "co-owner" in the "House of our life", then that will affect the formation of our daily life.  When we reflect on how we want to shape our life we must pay attention to several things.  Which external circumstances (health conditions, connection to other communities, house responsibilities etc.) should we include in planning our life?  Which internal givens (abilities, personal weakness, longings etc.) must we keep in mind if we want a new or remodeled form for our life or if we only want to simplify and deepen our existing life style?  We must also ask ourselves, where does the main emphasis of our spiritual life lie?  The on going search for the will of God will accompany us our entire life.  But we still need to make a decision regarding the primary direction.  Does the main task of our spiritual life have to do with enduring the vicissitudes of life, does it lie more in practical work, or do we place the main emphasis on dealing with people?  These questions will be the focus of the three options in the eleventh week.

- And finally, what can be clarified by using this image?  When we are concerned about the spiritual life then we will experience more and more that this life cannot be achieved by our own efforts.  We are dependent on the help of God. We need this help not just once but as a regular "allowance" and daily source of strength.  Where do we find it? That is the focus of the twelfth week.