It often seems that the church spends a lot of time trying to get people to be the same: teaching the same beliefs, worshiping in the same way and form, encouraging the same approach and same answers to difficult issues, celebrating the same traditions. There are many good reasons and some very natural dynamics behind that. However, the reality of our spiritual lives is that we each encounter God and understand our relationship with God differently. How could it be any other way? Our daily lives are different. Our families operate differently when it comes to anger, affirmation, discipline, and roles. Even identical siblings are different – you can’t simply exchange one for the other.

So it shouldn’t surprise us that the people in the movie respond differently as they face the challenge of understanding God’s role in their lives. It shouldn’t surprise us either that the people of the Bible don’t approach issues the same way. As you explore the questions presented by the movie, it might be a good thing to reflect on some of the ways in which different people in the Bible responded in their own ways to their encounters and relationship with God, especially in difficult and perplexing situations.

• Read the stories of Joseph (in the Gospel of Matthew) and Mary (in the Gospel of Luke) as they each deal in their own way with the announcement of Jesus’s conception. What emotions do they each go through? How do they come to a resolution? Is it easier for one to move forward than the other? What was at stake for them in saying “yes” to God?
• Read the stories of Sarah (the mother of Isaac) and Hannah (the mother of Samuel). Both felt ignored by God. How did they express their frustration? Both later faced the loss of their only son. How did they process the risk and in whom did they place their trust?
• Job and his friends each work to understand, explain, and find someone to blame for Job’s horrible losses. What are their approaches? Are any of their answers helpful?
• David and Jesus each face betrayal, times of being questioned, rejected, and abandoned (even by God). What were their responses?

Take some time, too, to reflect on your own spiritual life and experience.

• Have you ever let anger be a part of your feelings toward God? How did you respond to that… with a sense of shame or guilt, just feeling wrong, or maybe feeling grateful that you can share anything with God?
• Try reading several different psalms (you find a lot of real, emotional honesty there). Can they be a resource for you as your relationship with God ebbs and flows?

Finally, take some time to consider how community can be a powerful aid in understanding your spiritual life and experience. Whether that community is just a few friends (as it was in the movie), a small group, a class, or a congregation, the opportunity to share our experiences is crucial to moving forward, growing faith, and facing the challenges of life.