I hope the ideas contained below, will provide you with some topics for discussion, at your Shabbos table.

There is a wonderful story told in the Midrash (Tanchumah Parshas Re-eh 3) of the old man who sat at the starting point of two roads. One was full of thorns and nettles at the beginning, but afterwards was a good road, the other was smooth at the beginning, but later on became impassable. He sat at the junction and warned travellers; “although the first road looks full of thorns, travel along it, because in the long term it is a good road”. Those who were wise listened to him, and although in the beginning they found it difficult, in the end they had a good journey. Those who did not listen to him, in the end got nowhere.
The idea represented by this parable, applies to every area of Judaism, as well as perhaps to other things. If you do a mitzvoh without effort or thought, and merely by rote, it is easier, but in the end it becomes less and less uplifting or meaningful. If you work at it, in the end, you gain much more from it.
This applies particularly to Davenning. Perhaps we could ask ourselves, what could we do to make our Davening more meaningful. Look more at the translation, put in our own personal requests, or Daven more slowly, are some of the possibilities. Whatever we do, at the beginning it will be difficult, but in the end it will be worthwhile .
This underlying principle also explains the obvious discussion point of this week`s Sedra. How could the people worship a golden calf so soon after the incredible revelations at Mt. Sinai? The answer is, it was the mixed multitude of people known as the eruv rav, who instigated the whole thing. They had witnessed the great revelation at Sinai, but had not invested any effort in it. They had never built themselves up to the occasion. Therefore the effect on them was only superficial. When the revelation had passed, the effect rapidly wore off, and they turned to idolatry. In short, no investment, no return! In order to gain lasting uplift and inspiration from anything spiritual, one must put in real effort at the beginning.
SOURCES; Mussar Talks of Rav Chaim Shmulevitz & Mussar Talks of Rav Bestzion Levy
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QUESTION FOR THE WEEK;

Why do we read Parshas Poroh at this time of the year?

ANSWER;

The Mishkon in the desert was put up on the first of Nissan. Two weeks later they brought the Korban Pesach. Every single Jew had to partake of the Korban Pesach, and had to be pure to be allowed to do so. Therefore the Poroh Adumah was burnt at the end of Adar, so that its ashes would be ready to be used, for purifying the people, as soon as the Mishkon was put up. We read this Parshah to pray that Hashem will soon cast apon us his pure water. (See Verses of Haftarah of Parshas Poroh)

SOURCES; Mishneh Berurah, Chap 565 Note1