Dec. 23 - "Breathe" (segment 014)

Discussion guide questions:

The scene opens as a subway train emerges from a dark tunnel. It passes a station and then plunges back into another tunnel. Rob, waiting for the train, gives some statistics about breathing. He asks, "With all that all of us have going on every day, who actually thinks about their breathing?"

• Do you ever think about your breath?
• Have you ever thought about your breath from a spiritual perspective?

"Do not come and closer," God said. "Take off your sandals for the place where you are standing is holy ground." Exodus 3:5-6 (NIV)

• What do you believe it means to be "standing on holy ground"?
• Are we standing on holy ground, all of the time, but are not aware of it?

Rob begins discussing God's name. Although the English translation is L-O-R-D, the original Hebrew name is four letters, Y-H-V-H, which are pronounced "Yod, Heh, Vav, Heh." These letters were used as vowels in ancient Hebrew. Rob asks, "Is the name of God the sound of breathing?"

• Have you ever thought about God's name?
• Have you ever thought about God's name being anything different than just a name?
• If the name of God is the sound of breathing, how does that change the way you view yourself as a living being? How does it change the way you view others?

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. - Genesis 2:7 (NKJV)

"We're fragile and vulnerable, we come from dust," Rob says. "And yet at the same time, we've been breathed into by the creator of the universe."

• Are there ways in which you feel sacred and divine?
• Do you think it's possible to feel both vulnerable and divine at the same time?
• If the words for "breath" and "spirit' are the same in biblical context, does that affect your view of yourself and others?

One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. - Ephesians 4:6 (NASB)

• What do you have that you need to let go of - what do you need to breathe out?
• What can you do in your life to make sure you don't miss that you're "standing on holy ground"?

Class discussion:

Action items for the week:

• Set a timer for 1 minute. In that minute, imagine the breaths you're taking as breaths from God.
• The next time you're waiting in line, observe people breathing, and imagine they're breathing in God.
• Practice breathing exercises to lower your stress and increase energy.
• Breathe cleanly. If you smoke, quit.

Video note: "Breathe," the 14th Nooma in the series, is the first Nooma ever in which the word 'Nooma' (pneuma) occurs.