Identity is something I've struggled with for a long time, and I feel like our generation/world wrestles with. What do we allow to define us? Our success? Our social status? Popularity, ability, credibility? These are just a few of the thousand pieces of driftwood that we cling to while trying to keep afloat in this world. However, do these really keep our heads above water? Or do they just drag us deeper into the miry, swirling, dark depths, where we still left asking ourselves...
Who am I?
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It's funny how things you've read/seen a long time ago get stored away in the long-forgotten pages of journals and the dark recesses of your mind, but always find their way back into the light when they're most needed.
I was flipping through the pages of my journal, reading back over past entries when I found this quote:
"[Calin], doff thy name,
And for that name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself."
Now, as some may realize, this quote is from the famous balcony scene in William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet (minus the "[Calin]"). After just meeting at a costume party earlier in the night, Romeo climbs over the Capulets' wall, sneaks into their backyard, finds Juliet, and both proceed to profess their undying love for another only after a few short hours of knowing one another (I've taken the liberty to paraphrase a bit).
However, as Donald Miller points out in Searching for God Knows What, these lines are more than just the plea of a madly-in-love teenager.
This is the call of Christ.
Miller writes, "In exchange for what Scripture calls repentance, by renouncing our natures, by admitting our own brokenness, we may take all of Christ, identifying ourselves with His righteousness."
Christ calls us to leave behind our names and take on His. He calls us to let go of our pieces of driftwood and cling to Him. He tells us:
[Insert your name], throw off your name. The name that identifies as one who will never be good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, strong enough, funny enough. The name that tells you will never be loved; that you will end up alone; that you will never figure out life's plan; that you will ultimately fail as a husband, wife, mother, or father. The name that tells you that you do not deserve love; that you do not deserve grace; that you do not deserve mercy or compassion. Cast off that name.
And instead of taking on that name, that identity, which is not a part of you,
Take on the name of Christ. The name that accepts you unconditionally; the name that loves you constantly; the name that brings you into communion with the Father; the name that calls you the righteous sons and daughters of God. Yes, you are a broken, messed up person, but my love and grace covers that. Come to me.
This is what Christ calls us to do. We have to let go of our pieces of driftwood, driftwood that is broken and rotten. It will only keep us floating aimlessly in search of who we are. We have to let go and cling to Christ.
This is who God tells us who we are:
You are my son/daughter, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.
I was flipping through the pages of my journal, reading back over past entries when I found this quote:
"[Calin], doff thy name,
And for that name, which is no part of thee,
Take all myself."
Now, as some may realize, this quote is from the famous balcony scene in William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet (minus the "[Calin]"). After just meeting at a costume party earlier in the night, Romeo climbs over the Capulets' wall, sneaks into their backyard, finds Juliet, and both proceed to profess their undying love for another only after a few short hours of knowing one another (I've taken the liberty to paraphrase a bit).
However, as Donald Miller points out in Searching for God Knows What, these lines are more than just the plea of a madly-in-love teenager.
This is the call of Christ.
Miller writes, "In exchange for what Scripture calls repentance, by renouncing our natures, by admitting our own brokenness, we may take all of Christ, identifying ourselves with His righteousness."
Christ calls us to leave behind our names and take on His. He calls us to let go of our pieces of driftwood and cling to Him. He tells us:
[Insert your name], throw off your name. The name that identifies as one who will never be good enough, pretty enough, smart enough, strong enough, funny enough. The name that tells you will never be loved; that you will end up alone; that you will never figure out life's plan; that you will ultimately fail as a husband, wife, mother, or father. The name that tells you that you do not deserve love; that you do not deserve grace; that you do not deserve mercy or compassion. Cast off that name.
And instead of taking on that name, that identity, which is not a part of you,
Take on the name of Christ. The name that accepts you unconditionally; the name that loves you constantly; the name that brings you into communion with the Father; the name that calls you the righteous sons and daughters of God. Yes, you are a broken, messed up person, but my love and grace covers that. Come to me.
This is what Christ calls us to do. We have to let go of our pieces of driftwood, driftwood that is broken and rotten. It will only keep us floating aimlessly in search of who we are. We have to let go and cling to Christ.
This is who God tells us who we are:
You are my son/daughter, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.
3 comments:
love it :)
Great post Calin! Thanks for it!
Glad to see you back in the world of posting. You have great insight and wisdom...definitely continue to share! And hopefully, see ya soon!
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