So why the previous post on the Myers-Briggs inventory? Because that is one way of getting at who you are as a person. Titles are another way. Professions and professional statuses are still other ways. You see, I do think it’s important to ask the question Who Am I? because it’s my theory that you aren’t so great for the world without a firm understanding of who you are.
There are certainly different ways of coming to a self-realization, Myers-Briggs being one of them, but the work of finding yourself and being at peace with who you are is important. Another way of finding out who you are is by asking others, Who do you say that I am? That can be an intense question to ask of someone as you may not like the answer that comes back at you but it’s worth asking.
In the end, whether you define yourself through the Myers-Briggs inventory, a title, a specific characteristic, a story that sums you up or the answers to the question Who do you say that I am? you must realize that the truth of who you are is summed up in six short but very important words: You are a child of God. That is who you are. You are God’s child.
With that truth embedded in the depths of your being, you will be your full self: unencumbered, authentic and transparent. With that truth of who you are firmly rooted in your soul, with that truth housed in your heart you will be good for your family. You will be good for your neighbors. You will be good for your community. You will be good for the world.
Welcome to the blog of Joe Hays, minister for Christ's Church for Brooklyn. We are a loving community of believers who seek to be the hands and feet of Christ, in service to our neighbors in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn and beyond.
C’mon bro, I was the only naysayer… Say my name!
No, no, no. I wasn’t calling you out. This was essentially my sermon this past Sunday. I started with the whole Myers-Briggs thing and ended with the Good News that we are all children of God. That “title”, if you will, is the best descriptor of who we are and should influence everything about us.
I was, in all seriousness, going to follow up the Myers-Briggs post with this post. Seriously.
I bet if i’d heard Sunday’s message I wouldn’t have called personality tests “crap”. =)
I think i’ll just podcast you right now…
And even if you did call me out, I would still say you’re one hunk of a man…
I have definitely been wondering lately who I am. I look in the mirror and do not recognize the girl (woman?) that is staring back at me. Not the person that I think I am, for sure. Not an ideal, either. But a stranger. A composite of a person that I do not recognize. Definitely not who I envisioned myself to be at age 32. Good God, am I really 32?!?
At this point, I am still (seriously) questioning where I fit….does God really have a plan for me? Is it really better than I imagined? Should I continue to hold out hope for that life still to be explained aned explored? Or should I just branch out? Should I start to ‘compromise’ my dreams? Should I ‘give up’ the ideals that I’ve held out for my life? Should I “church hop” for that perfect man? Should I stay where I am, in my church family, and pray that God will bring my husband to me? And how do I reconcile the pain that singleness continues to bring to me?
How do I ease this loneliness? How do I continue to function in a world that is for me, less than ideal? How do I cope with my younger sister having so many things in life that I thought (even thought I deserved) I would have first?
I still wrestle with your asesertion that “I am a child of God” — why is that? I grew up in a strong Christian home, went to ACU, am still a part of the C of C — why do I still struggle with this?
Sorry, this is probably way off topic. Just wish I was in a faith community where I could ask these questions as honestly as I can in the (relative) anonymity of the blog-o-sphere.