Wide Awake

Main Point of Discussion: We must learn to show love to people… even the ones we don't like.

The Movie Clip: Compassion for… Freddie?

Before Lady in the Water, Signs, or even The Sixth Sense, M. Night Shyamalan's first major film, Wide Awake, was about a kid in search of God. The film, full of numerous discussion provokers, introduces young actor Joseph Cross as Joshua A. Beal. Josh recently lost his grandfather and seeks out God to make sure that “Grandpa made it up there okay.” In Josh's quest for God, he finds more questions and more answers than he was looking for.

Introducing the Clip:
Today we're going to be talking about certain people in your lives. We've all got these particular people. They are at your school or maybe in your home, or perhaps even in this room. We're talking about the people we just plain don't like. Everybody's got them. But before we go into our discussion, we're going to watch a video clip from the movie Wide Awake. Wide Awake is about a kid named Josh that attends a private Catholic school. Throughout the film we have seen young Josh get picked on by a bully named Freddie.

In scene I’m going to show you, kids are waiting in the cafeteria to be picked up from school. One of the nuns (played by Rosie O'Donnell) calls various kids, finally getting to Freddie, the bully of the school. In a prior scene, Freddie just had a meeting with the principal and found out that his parents can't afford the school anymore. This will be Freddie's last day of school. Josh overheard this conversation in the principal's office and actually feels sorry for Freddie. But he can't figure out why he cares for a kid that has devoted his life to picking on others. This is the moment that Freddie is going to be leaving the school for good. Watch how Josh responds to this new situation.

Scene Script:

Sister Terry: (calling his name) Waltman! Freddie Waltman.

Freddie doesn't get up. He just sits at the cafeteria table with his head hung low. All the kids watch as Sister Terry walks over to him.

Sister Terry: (comforting Freddie) You okay? …

Josh's Voice Over: Freddy Waltman has picked on me since I was in 3rd grade. He pushed me in a locker, put cherry Jell-O in my sneakers and told everyone when I split my pants in social studies. What is wrong with me? Today should be the happiest day of my life.

Freddie is led out to his parents' car by Sister Terry. Josh, responding to his own conviction, leaps from his seat and runs out to Freddie's car, now slowly pulling away.

Josh: Wait! Wait … stop!

The minivans puts on its brakes and Josh runs up to it and knocks on the window next to where Freddie is sitting in the minivan. Freddie looks puzzled for a moment, but then opens the minivan door. Josh pauses for a moment, then extends his hand to shake Freddie's hand.

Josh: Bye Freddie.

They shake hands

Transitional Statement:
It was a little surprising to see how Josh responded to Freddie, isn't it? Right now we're going to discuss how we're supposed to deal with our “enemies.” It's a difficult thing when you're trying to deal with someone you don't like.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: Before we begin talking about people we don't like, let's start out by going around the circle. Share your name and also name someone that you really get along with well. Why do you get along with them?


2. ASK A FEW: Now think of someone that you don't like at all. Don't name them … but tell us why you don't like them?


3. ASK A FEW: Do you think that you could do what Josh did—make an effort to show kindness to someone who never showed you any kindness?


4. ASK A FEW: How do you think we should treat the people we don't like?

Read the following passage:

Matthew 5:43-47 (NLT)
“You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. [44] But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! [45] In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too. [46] If you love only those who love you, what good is that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. [47] If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.”


5. ASK ONE OR TWO: Jesus is the one talking in the above verses. According to verse 44, who does He want us to love? Why?


6. ASK ONE OR TWO: In the video clip, Josh felt compassion for his “enemy.” Freddie had never done a nice thing to Josh in his entire life. What changed?


7. ASK A FEW: When Josh overheard the conversation in the principal's office, he understood a little more about Freddie, and once he understood Freddie, he felt compassion for him. How can we seek to understand those around us?


8. ASK A FEW: What are actions we can take to reach out to those who might be “enemies” in our mind?


9. AROUND THE CIRCLE: What are you actually going to do this week to treat someone differently or change the way you think about someone you don't like?

Close in Prayer