The weekend retreat was renewing, challenging. One question has stayed with me, haunted me... "Who Do You Think You Are?" As a church council, as an individual, just who do we think we are? Our retreat leader related a story of an incident that had happened to him years ago. He bent to retrieve a purse, dropped by a frustrated fellow shopper in the grocery store; a young woman with two restless, cranky children. She screamed at him: "who do you think you are?" This question lives with him to this day; he hurled it at us as a challenge... Naturally, there are the obvious answers... wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, QUILTER. Who am I as a Christian, who do I think I am? Are they one in the same? I know that I am a child of God. I know that I am charged, as that child, to minister. I become that face, the face of God, to those whom I meet; to those with whom I interact, every single day. I will continue to attempt to hone those skills, to let my light shine clearly through... to be prepared to give a reason for the hope, the joy(!), that lives within me. Ponder the question with me, if you will... "who do you think you are?"Life is Good!
8 comments:
Sounds like you had a wonderful, thought-provoking retreat. That's good...life is good. Our priest is on a silent retreat all week. I envy him the silence and time for prayer.
Have a great week as you prepare for your next retreat.
Love ya!
Most of the time, I'm the usual "me": wife, mother, friend, nurse. But lately have had two occasions of being the peacemaker at church. I have never thought of myself as the wise one with the solution to a crisis, but I've listened with interest as others compliment me about this side of me. To see myself through their eyes has been good for my soul. I think it shows me that I am ever-changing, and that I can become whatever I need to be.
I hope you enjoyed the retreat. If nothing else, you came away with things to ponder which is always meaningful.
Thanks for the post on my blog. I'm new to all this, but Shelina's inspired me.
Who do I think I am? Some days I'm a poor excuse for a mother, wife, and teacher. But every day, I'm a child of God so I can be forgiven for the bad days! Here's to more good days!
Yes.it was wonderful and thought provoking, Sioux; and so much more! AC-- You're right when you say that things to ponder can be meaningful... but, when you say you are changing to become whatever YOU need to be; think further... what does God need for you to be? Isn't that where the challenge is? That's my struggle...
Carol-- welcome; indeed a blessing to be children of God together forgiven and forgiving!
Ah, Mrs. G., I think that God puts us in situations to make us be what we need to be, to make us grow and change, and to be his instruments here on Earth. When I pray, I remind myself not to pray for what I want, but for what God wants for me. I think God wants me to become whatever I need to be to help others, because it's serving His purpose. Make sense?
A question said that way is generally meant to put someone in their place - in that they think of themselves as more important than they really should. The reality is that each individual is important, and it is the person who asked the question who is feeling low and needs to lower someone so they can stand higher in line.
Je pence, donc je suis moi!
Tres bien, Kyle!
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