Clothesline - Edition 218

By Rev. Elizabeth L. Nelson, Pastor

September 25, 2024  

The question “Who am I?” has been coming up a lot lately.

I’m reading some writings of Henry Nouwen, one of the most influential spiritual writers of our time, and he poses that question: Who am I? We tell our children as they grow up that if they study and work hard, they will be successful: that’s who they are. Others feel that if you come from the right family, you will have all that you want or need: that’s who they are. Nouwen writes that who we are does not come from what we do or what we have, but from who God created us to be. In Genesis, we are told that we are created in the image of God, that we are God’s children, and that alone tells us who we are. The world wants us to believe that what we do, what others say about us, and what we possess will determine who we are. Don’t you believe it!

In the past few months, I have lost a few special people in my life, and I’ve been looking at those lives through my knowledge of them and through their obituaries. Yes, I’ve been reading obituaries; I hear that comes with age! While that might seem morbid, it’s fascinating to see those final words in print about an individual…what people thought was important to share.

The person most responsible for showing me the path I would follow was Fr. Christopher Davis who passed away in July. While he was a monk, he was described in his obituary as “well-loved for his infectious enthusiasm, his readily recognizable laugh, his witness of joy—a cheerful giver loved by God.” He was also an extravert, which is the total opposite of a monk, and the writer of his obituary listed a significant number of things he had accomplished in his life.

My sister’s obituary was significantly shorter. I was surprised to learn that she had written it herself some time ago. While Fr. Christopher’s monastery home was in Rhode Island, he had done chaplaincies in North Dakota, Texas, various high schools, and was known for his writing and photography. He touched a significant number of lives. My sister went to work after high school, married, and lived in RI her entire life. She also outlived her husband and her daughter. But as I put both those obituaries side by side, none of it mattered. They both knew who they were in the eyes of God. They both lived lives worthy of being called “children of God.” And I’m sure they are both standing with Jesus today.

At the end of Nouwen’s article he says this: “When you look in the mirror, say to yourself: ‘I am God’s priceless child, and he is deeply pleased with me.’” So, who are you? You are a child of God, loved for who you are…not what you’ve accomplished.