Who Am I?

In the memoir section of The Cost of Discipleship, we read Bonhoeffer's poem "Who Am I." When I first read this poem, I was immediately reminded of a camp called Crosswild I have been a part of since middle school. The summer before my senior year of high school, Crosswild's theme was I Am. Through the course of the week, different session topics were things like I Am Called, I Am Saved, I Am Loved and other ones I'm currently having trouble remembering. The aim of that week though, was to paint a picture of that very question. Who Am I? When a life spent following Christ is being pursued, then this question will inherently be asked.

We may see this question as insecurity or doubt, but realistically I think this question is an incredibly important part of being honest in one's walk. When we pursue God's will for our lives, we wrestle with concerns of what we are called to do, where we are called to go, all these things become part of our thinking. I would assert though, that we can lose ourselves all too easily in these questions if we do not confront the main question first.

Before anything else we must strive to establish our innermost identity in Christ, "that I may gain Christ and be found in Him." If all of those other questions are confronted before this, then when things dont go as we expected, then that is all we are left with. However, when one's very identity is founded in Christ, then that will always be there regardless of any and all other circumstances. When life hits the fan, I Am still exactly who God created me to be and I know that He loves me and has a plan for me. That cannot be taken away.

This is the conclusion that Bonhoeffer brings his poem to in the last line, "Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am Thine!" Throughout the poem, he essentially lists insecurities and other ideas pertaining to who he is. He talks about doubts in himself, other's opinions of him, and different things that have happened, yet in the end, he still knows who he is. He is who he is in Christ. That is the only true constant and thus, can never be taken away from him. Whatever happens, we are His.

p.s. I commented on Susan's