Feb. 2 - "Name" (018)

In a darkened studio, there are several people of different ages, ethnicities and gender standing silently and wearing plain white t-shirts. Rob starts by talking about a recent conversation with his counselor. He had started his question with the phrase "Is it normal for people to -" but before Rob could finish the question, the counselor interrupted. "We're not here to talk about other people, are we? So the better question is: is it normal for you?"

• Why do you think we so often we so often worry about what everyone else is doing, saying or thinking?
• Should it matter to us what's "normal" for everyone else?

That night Jacob got up and took his two wive, his two maidservants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of Jabbock. After he had send them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled the man.
Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak.'
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he replied. - Genesis 32:22-27 (NIV)

The people in the studio peel off their white t-shirts to reveal they're wearing navy t-shirts with different words printed on them. "Designer suits" is on one of the men's t-shirt. "Student" is emblazoned on someone else's. "In the ancient Near East your name was more than just words," Rob reports. "Your name was reflective of your character, your substance, I mean the very fiber that made you, you.

• What is your name?
• Have you ever though of your name as a reflection of who you are?

Rob goes on to talk about how we each have a unique path, "a calling, a life God has given us."

• Do you have the sense of a unique path in your life? If so, what is it?
• Are there ways in which you tend to get distracted from "your path" because of what others do, say, or think?

A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. - Proverbs 14:30 (TNIV)

"Some people live their whole lives according to the expectations of others, "says Rob.

• Are there things in your life that you do because it's "expected" of you?
• If so, do these things get in the way of you doing what you really feel you should be doing?
• Do you think you could live in a way where you're not comparing yourself to people who have more than you, who look different than you, or who can do things you can't?
• Do you think you can ever fully bet you if you don't?

Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. - Job 5:2 (TNIV)

"We need to saved from all the times we haven't been our true selves, declares Rob. " All the times we tried to be someone else. All the times we asked the wrong questions. And we've missed the voice of Jesus saying, 'You, follow me.' "

• What would it look like for you to completely trust Jesus when he says, "You, follow me?"

Video note: The set for this Nooma was so newly constructed that paint was still drying on the walls as it was filmed.

Feb. 17 "Matthew" (012)

Rob is in a hotel room, getting ready for the day. He begins talking about his friend Matthew, a teenager who was killed in a car wreck. "This kids, "Rob says, "was so, so talented."

• Think of someone you've lost. How do you remember that person?
• How would you describe the way you're feeling about your loss?

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. - John 11:33 (NIV)

Rob advises not bottling up feelings, whatever they are. "If we stuff it, then it's in there somewhere, and it will come out. Maybe you lost somebody a long time ago and you never properly grieved. The it's in there somewhere."

• What do you think it means to "properly grieve?"
• Have you let the full force of your loss hit you?

Jesus wept. - John 11:35 (KJV)

• Why is it so easy to become bitter when we lose someone we love?
• Have you chosen not to be bitter?
• Is guilt stopping your heart from recovering?

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up. - Psalm 71:20 (NIV)

"It's easy , when we suffer loss, for whatever it is that we've lost to become the center of our life...it becomes all we can think about, "Robs cautions. "Our whole life becomes what we don't have and we lose out on what we do have."

• Think about who you do have.
• Do you trust that God will someday restore everything?
• Do you believe that includes being reunited with the people you love?

He [Jesus] must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. - Acts 3:21 (NIV)

Class discussion:
Video note: In memory of Matthew Winfield Diederich 1977-2004.