I am devouring the work of the late Henri Nouwen, theologian and spiritual teacher. His message in this 8-minute video reminds us that when we ask the question “Who am I?” the answer is not, “I am what I do.” Nor is the answer, “I am what others say about me” nor “I am what I have.” In each of these answers there is a dead end or a combination of circumstances that would make us feel small and worthless, leading only to despair. Henri Nouwen believes these answers to that age-old question are lies.
The answer is “I am a beloved daughter of God.” And he maintains that the key task of our spiritual journey is “to claim that and live a life based on that knowledge.”
I plan to spend a great deal of meditation time thinking about what my life would be like if I truly embraced this truth that I am beloved by God. How many unimportant things would fall away? How many annoying and exhausting worries would become insignificant? How many barbs from others or self-doubts would cease to wound?
I am beloved of God!
This video is an excerpt from a longer sermon, the additional parts of which you can find using YouTube’s search window, but it plants the seed for this crucial message and it’s worthy of your reflection today.
Who do you believe you are? Whose do you believe you are?
For further reading: Books by Henri Nouwen
One of those things that resonated with me…how one person sees you defines you or how one person’s ugly words can break your day. The other day I read on FB…something like, “There are billions of people in the world, and you are going to let that one person ruin your day?” I really took that to heart as well (I used this yesterday when someone at work said something not so nice). The ugly words were followed by my thought – I have so many blessings, that person ain’t gonna ruin this glorious day! I am not defined by my “job.” Why is it that when we are at a party or gathering, people ask “What do you do?” expecting, I’m an accountant, I’m a dentist, I’m a doctor. When that’s not at all WHO I am. Perhaps next time I will say, “I’m a dreamer, and I am loved, always.” No matter my mistakes or missteps.
I LOVE this idea, Karen! I’m going to totally rethink my “elevator speech” and have something else ready the next time someone asks “What do you do?” In fact, I think this is worthy of a future blog post all by itself! I’ll start by asking readers right now: What’s a more fulfilling answer for you to the question “What do you do?”
That’s a good idea for a blog post – inspire others to come up with their new ‘go to’ line for, “What do you do?”