Following my reading of Ken Robinson’s article “Connections: Disruption and Healing” in the February 2022 Australia Herald, my mind was stirred to the question of my identity. Ken had written about the disruptions we encounter in our lives particularly at this time because of the Corona virus. He said these disruptions can interfere with the many connections we have made during our lives. He went on to say, “People can begin to lose even their connection to themselves, to their sense of identity”. So I asked myself the question, “Who am I?”
Do we ever ask ourselves this question? As we try and find an answer we can be taken on a journey of discovery as we try and uncover who we really are as a person. I undertook this venture and wrote down what I found. Some of the things I discovered about myself were: I am a son, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, minister, retiree, amateur gardener, writer, and a friend.
Within my social environment are many family and friends with different personalities, assorted attitudes to life and varied belief systems. I have concluded that I have to continue to strengthen my relationship with each of these people and keep connected with them. I’m sure you find yourself in a similar situation.
Establishing my identity with each of these people is a privileged responsibility that means adapting my outlook, presence, attitudes and communication skills to meet the varying personalities, outlooks on life and present circumstances they face in their lives.
Is there room for improvement in the image of myself that I have thus far created in my over 80 years of living? I am sure there is! I wonder to myself, what is the image I present to people? How can I develop this persona into a more meaningful Christ-like image and what do the Scriptures have to say that might help me along the way?
My first stop in finding answers to these questions is to look to Jesus and his earthly life and ministry. Jesus established his identity at his baptism when he declared his mission statement: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring goof news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4: 18-19 NRSV).
Jesus also made clear his identity when he invited people to come to him and he would give them help to cope with their problems. This divine invitation he offered was: “Come to me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30 NRSV).” Can these declarations be our challenges for life as well?
This invitation from Christ comes directly to each of us and reflects an invitation we can use as an adjunct for invitations we can offer people needing our assistance to cope with life.
And so we might ask ourselves, when am I the real me? Is it when I am amongst people, or when I’m alone? I remember reading of an incident when a woman entered a lift in a tall office building. There was just one other person in the lift, a handsome man. She pushed the button for her floor and then casually looked over at the man and suddenly had one of those moments of recognition shock. Could it be? The man looked exactly like Robert Redford, the movie star. Her gaze was almost involuntary riveted on him. Finally, she blurted out, “Are you the real Robert Redford?” He smiled and said, “Only when I’m alone!”
I ask myself, should my identity be any different when I am with people than when I am by myself? Should my thoughts and actions be any different in either of these situations?
When we call ourselves Christians, we are identifying with Christ. When we wear a cross, or put Christian stickers on our cars, or people see us entering a church, we are being witnesses for Him. We are being identified with the name of Christ. Is our behaviour compatible with that name and with the symbol that shows that we are a Christian?
Establishing our identity “in Christ” is the first step in knowing who we really are! As we step into our identity in Christ – who we are, to whom we belong, and who is within us – we will find love, motivation, and power available so that we are able to do what otherwise we could not do.
Bill Gillard