It was August 2002, my first day of college. I sat near the front with my new notebook and wildly pricey textbook, eager to begin when my Intro to Sociology professor hit me with the hardest question I have ever been asked,
“Who Are You?”
BUT! There’s always a but, right?
You cannot state anything about:
Your background
Your name
Anything you do
Your answer was to be what you ARE, not what you DO
I sat for what felt like an eternity in front of an otherwise blank page with “Who Are You” written across the top.
I kept thinking of ideas and who start toward my paper with my pen but had to stop each time thinking, “Nope, that’s my background”, “Nope, that’s something I do.”
I have to be honest with you, I cannot remember after all these years what the lesson was in conjunction with this beginning exercise but I do remember I wasn’t able to answer that question. That page stayed blank.
In my pastor’s sermon 2 weeks ago he stated, “One of the MAIN problems in the Christian life is our identity crisis.”
We don’t know who we are.
I guarantee I was not the only one whom could not answer that question, that day or today.
As a Type A, people pleasing, working mom so much of my identity is wrapped up in what I do I’m afraid I may never get it fully unraveled.
As I sit here at my kitchen table, as a 35 year old woman, and write this to you, I sadly am realizing I still can’t answer that question with those parameters.
I wasn’t a Christian that day in Intro to Sociology, I was lost, and my path in life has been a little twisted, to say the least. But now, after having walked in the faith for nearly 11 years, I feel I should be able to answer that question.
Because I know who I’m supposed to be, because I’m a good girl and I read my Bible. I’m supposed to be:
Beloved
Chosen
Royal
Holy
Righteous
Redeemed
Cherished
Forgiven
This list could go on forever because His word, which I believe to be complete truth, is full of references, answers to this very question, “Who Am I?”
But if we don’t honestly believe it, if we can’t accept it as the truth, as who we really are, it means ABSOLUTELY nothing! It’s just words.
Because if we don’t accept it then in our own thoughts, actions and behaviors we are still:
An orphan
Lost
Unwanted
Unworthy
Dirty
Unholy
Discarded
Undeserving
I write this to you today from a place of sadness, of revelation, but also from a place of hope, because I do believe that God loves, because I can feel it, I can see evidence of it in my life.
I’ve seen His miracles that have transformed me from that lost girl in Intro to Sociology to a princess! A daughter to the King!
That I believe.
Do you believe that?
Do you believe that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for you?
If not, if you are the least bit curious about what that means for who you are, who you could be and who you want to be, please ask someone. Today. Before you lose your nerve.
Because I’m not there yet, but I trust that God loves me and has a plan for me and that’s the very best place to start on any journey!
Thank you for joining me in this journey and I pray that you can answer the question better than I can, “Who Are You?”
Love,
Katie