“Lies of Identity”

– Ponderings:

“Who are you?” How do you answer that question? There are so many ways we might respond. Spouse, parent, grandparent, child. By our occupation. By where we live.

Henri Nouwen, another author I enjoy reading, identified what he calls “lies of identity”:

#1 – I am what I have. We define ourselves by our possessions, feeling good when we acquire more and bad when we have less.

#2 – I am what I do. Many of us get our sense of identity from our occupation or role in life.

#3 – I am what other people say about me. We base our identity on others’ opinions of us and our abilities.

#4 – I am nothing more than my worst moment. When we look in the mirror, we see only our failures and shortcomings, and we let them define us.

#5 – I am nothing less than my best moment. We work hard to hide our weaknesses from others and present our best selves to others, afraid that if they discover our true nature, they will reject us.

An event in the life of Jesus offers us a different answer to the question. “Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’” (Luke 3:21-23).

As Jesus is baptized, God reminds him of his truest and deepest identity: he is God’s beloved Son. God reminds us through our baptisms and in many other ways that we are also his beloved children. However, throughout our lives, we often struggle to believe this is the truest thing about us. Why is it that we allow others to define us, limit the truth about ourselves, or lie about who we are when the truth is so much greater?

Which of the “identity lies” do you struggle with the most? How can you remind yourself of your true identity as a beloved child of God, believe it’s true, and accept it’s the greatest definition possible? Can’t you hear God shouting your name and saying you are his beloved child and he is thrilled with you? Because that’s who God is and who you are!