There are many single words that could describe me: Daddy, pastor, chaplain, divorced, volunteer, son, sinner, short, only-child, semi-athletic, redeemed, funny, compassionate, and the list could go on. Although each of those words describe some aspect or characteristic of who I am, no single word defines me; and in reality, it is God alone who defines me.
If you have read my blogs lately, then you will notice that I have been doing a lot of reflecting on life. What our identity is as humans is so much a part of who we are . . . in fact, it is everything we are. (I don’t think that Yogi Berra could have said that any better.)
Who Am I? Who are you? We are God’s loved children. Most of the time we know this truth: that we are God's loved children. Nevertheless, what happens much more often is that many of us forget to believe that we are God's loved children . . . a disconnect, perhaps, of the head and the heart.
What does it mean for us to be loved by God? As I was talking to a friend this week, I found myself saying these words: "fear has the ability to create change in people's lives for brief moments in time, but the only thing that I have ever known that can transform the entirety of a person's life is love". God loves us into complete transformation.
So, you’ve discovered you are not perfect. That’s great, now come and join the rest of us. This life – getting back to my ponderings on identity – is not about who we are at any given moment. Even from our faith’s earliest beginnings, God has always entrusted the most rag-tag group of underdogs with his glorious mission . . . groups like us. And through them – and us – following Christ’s lead, God’s love continues to transform this world. Our identify lies not with who we perceive we are, but with the ongoing creatively imaginative work of God’s love that is actively transforming us into the people that God has created us to be.
We continue to be God’s canvas, works of art in progress – being transformed into beauty beyond measure. But always remember this truth, even before the artwork is finished God is able to look upon us and say, you are very good. We have already received God’s stamp of approval.
If you have read my blogs lately, then you will notice that I have been doing a lot of reflecting on life. What our identity is as humans is so much a part of who we are . . . in fact, it is everything we are. (I don’t think that Yogi Berra could have said that any better.)
Who Am I? Who are you? We are God’s loved children. Most of the time we know this truth: that we are God's loved children. Nevertheless, what happens much more often is that many of us forget to believe that we are God's loved children . . . a disconnect, perhaps, of the head and the heart.
What does it mean for us to be loved by God? As I was talking to a friend this week, I found myself saying these words: "fear has the ability to create change in people's lives for brief moments in time, but the only thing that I have ever known that can transform the entirety of a person's life is love". God loves us into complete transformation.
So, you’ve discovered you are not perfect. That’s great, now come and join the rest of us. This life – getting back to my ponderings on identity – is not about who we are at any given moment. Even from our faith’s earliest beginnings, God has always entrusted the most rag-tag group of underdogs with his glorious mission . . . groups like us. And through them – and us – following Christ’s lead, God’s love continues to transform this world. Our identify lies not with who we perceive we are, but with the ongoing creatively imaginative work of God’s love that is actively transforming us into the people that God has created us to be.
We continue to be God’s canvas, works of art in progress – being transformed into beauty beyond measure. But always remember this truth, even before the artwork is finished God is able to look upon us and say, you are very good. We have already received God’s stamp of approval.
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