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.