Aren’t You Going to Open it?
The issue of identity and purpose are littered with questions humans have struggled with and hungered after since…forever. Our culture today is no different. Culture in the United States is presently hyper as well as aggressively focused on identify and we’ve taken it in a litany of different directions. However, many of the soothsayers in our colleges, elementary schools and governmental offices are tracking down paths far deeper and darker than the hookah smoking caterpillar from Alice’s Wonderland.
In 2022, we are investigating and demanding universal acceptance of every external and superficial bit of microwaved nonsense that a genuinely bleeding heart can envision and cling to. And yet, each of us have a drive of one kind of another to answer these some of these fundamental questions among their many nuanced cousins:
- Who am I?
- What am I here to do?
- Where did I come from?
- Where am I going?
This write up is to largely outline how I began to deliberately address these very questions in my life starting with early patterns and I hope to unpack some of the tools I’ve used to achieve some very meaningful answers. We’ve lost too much ground already and we can’t be silent on identify and culture any more. What is in your box? Who are you?
Why?
Why are we people so driven to seek identity – to know and be known? Identity is something that G-d has addressed with His people in the Hebrew scriptures as well as during the appearance of Christ many times. It’s been a very common topic over the several millennia between G-d and man. Why? You and I are hardwired by G-d to know Him and to be fully known by Him. The means of achieving that goal has always been two-way communication – His identity revealed to us and us making use of the opportunity to express our wrestling as we discover more and more about our identity towards Him. Jesus came to make that very opportunity possible. Our sin cut us off from the source of life, relationship, abundance and true wisdom. He bridged the gap for all who are willing to choose.
Why would G-d need to address this topic of identity so frequently? In short, we are a forgetful people and identity is central to most everything in our lives. During the earthly ministry of Christ, the Devil viciously attacked the identity of believers and unbelievers alike. Satan, as if his arrogance could go no higher, had the audacity to say to Jesus (Matthew 4:3), “If you’re the Son of G-d…”
If? These two individuals are very well acquainted with each other and not because they were related (Oy). Jesus later went on to state that He was around to see Satan fall like lightning from his former glory in Luke 10:17-20. If? Satan was after the identity of the one person who knew him best. Satan knows that if he can crack the image we see in the mirror, it will greatly change our perspective on virtually everything else in life.
If you need a modern example of attacks on identity, we as a society are now beginning to embrace the notion that a boy can become a girl purely born out of feelings in concert with many hidden and tragic injuries of various kinds. And those who disagree with this loving ideology are to be viciously removed from all portions of society. The Fallen Liar is certainly after identity in our country with many buying into the honey on his forked tongue. Identity is virtually the utmost central issue to the success or the failure of ones life purpose and the Enemy would like nothing better than to see every single one of us miss it.
Why is identity an issue worth discussing and defending? Because the truth of identity is beautiful, essential and precious beyond that of gold. It’s the best adventure one could ever ask for. If unpacking your identity is boring, you’re probably doing it wrong. The subject of identity is one near and dear to me. It’s a topic I address fairly often when I teach almost regardless of core topic I may be addressing at a given time. G-d will often weave it in. Even as I’m writing this, I’m remembering moments when those I addressed in a class had perhaps their first Aha! moment. They were often so happy, relieved, peaceful, etc. It was always an interesting mix. There finally came a time when they were able to reconcile at least some of the micro-moments in their life that would never congeal into even a partial picture. Now they knew and could see it even if only in part. Now they understood why so many little things happened in such a way around them. Now they could see why certain things captured their attention while others didn’t. AHA indeed! It’s a great feeling and it’s amazing to be a part of someone’s journey in that way. There was an instant and expanding new wholeness in their lives. Please understand…This is stuff G-d absolutely wants you to know about yourself. It’s amazing. He’s the best author of your story.
Coming back to the Word, Paul takes the topic of identify a step further with his emphasis to have ones identity settled long before undertaking substantive ministry works. 1 Corinthians chapter 11 deals with many angles of identifying who and how we are each members of the Body of Christ. There are many ways to handle that fact. He highlights removing casualness, doubt and dishonorable conduct. He also suggests there are meaningful consequences for not discerning the Lord’s Body and our place in it. There is enough material there for a doctrinal thesis without even trying and I’m not going to provide one here. He goes on to say that you, reader, have a unique supply established by G-d unlike any other. You are needed, but you have to find out what you are first. The opening of Chapter 12 begins with the phrase Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant…
Now that you’ve got your discerner tuned…Now that you’ve gotten your identity at least fundamentally settled where it can grow healthy and develop…NOW we can get into some things.
In many faith circles, we get this very backwards. We push and suggest diving into our spiritual gifts or launching out into frontline ministry work like intercession, etc. often before we ministers have even discussed the topic of identity with those in our care. You may have met this person twice with a total of maybe seven minutes of conversation having transpired. Start with getting to know them. See what G-d has to say to you about them. What do they need and how has G-d positioned you along side them? Even if, for example, the person you’re speaking to is called by G-d (not a board) to be a Pastor, what kind? I’ve known many throughout the years and every single one of them who G-d actually called to the Office possessed certain core traits. These same Pastors also possessed some amazing and VERY unique traits that set them apart from each other, but were all still called of G-d to work in the Office of Pastor. Why would you train a baker to operate a fork lift? How is learning sheet music useful to a welder? Who are the people under your care? We can no longer afford to train people to be like us or what our religious circles demand. We need to train them to be just like them – the version G-d envisions for them. This will never be accomplished while we hold to any type mold-like religious machinery or while on any form of autopilot as leaders. We must begin to engage with Him more directly, deliberately.
We ministers are under pressure to hear from G-d and deliver on what He has uniquely given us for the sake of those around us. I refer to this living exchange as Applied Theology. The pressure for this aspect of ministry is truly no different than any other and the Holy Spirit will always bring support, supply and revelation to make sure this fitting is accomplished as we lean on Him. It’s not all on the Pastor folks. It’s on us to lend our G-d given supply to those in need regardless of formal title.
A lot of well meaning and kind people early in my walk tried to fit me into the boxes they knew and I, not knowing any better, went along with a lot of it. As it turns out, they were very wrong and I wasted a lot of time. G-d is, however, very gracious and helped me buy back that time. Apart from their good intentions, I have an individual and personal responsibility to hear from G-d myself. They may have suggested wrong roads inadvertently, but I’m the one responsible and accountable for walking down them.
Source of Identity
To Whom will you Yield?
There are four primary voices in this world we can invest our lives into following regardless of who we are, what we believe or what we acknowledge in our lives. Ready?
- The World (system)
- The Flesh – Our sin nature with its appetites
- The Devil and his host
- G-d
One will bring you to your highest potential. The other three will, at best, cause delays. At worst, the other three will rip from you everything that was placed inside you to be and to do.
The Enemy’s advanced progress in the arena of identity within our culture today largely lies with the indifference held by those who have the answer to these burning questions – The Church. We’ve been too quiet. Up until now, we’ve disengaged with the culture and taken a compartmentalized and/or autopilot approach to each other, our children and our culture. Up until now, we’ve lived on the culture of faith from those before us and largely have not taken on the mantle ourselves yet. Their work is done and we’ve ridden their harvest down to the bare ground. It’s our turn now. G-d is getting ready to explode on the scene and now we each have an important, beautiful and amazing part to play. Aren’t you going to open it? We each need you. We each want you and not just as a workhorse. Get in the game!
Tuning In
I won’t deal with this in depth here as it truly warrants its own discussion and write-up, but how does one tune in properly? That’s a huge and yet simple question. It starts, as most things do, with actually wanting to know and being willing to ask of G-d in faith. How will you know it’s Him you’re hearing? Good question. I’ve asked that many times over the last twenty years during times of stretching especially or when I encounter something new or unexpected. Believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him – Hebrews 11:6b. G-d is big enough and knows you better than you know yourself. He knows how to get your attention in ways that are unique and relevant to you with all of creation at His disposal to make it happen. As a validation of what we think we are perceiving, we fall back to the written Word. He doesn’t contradict Himself. I’m probably going to have a write up on this topic specifically in due time to outline this dynamic better, but start there for now.
Bear also in mind that you’re never alone in this lifelong exploration either. He has sent the Church, His bride, in to help and He will doubtless place wise (not just educated) people around you to help keep you off the proverbial and sometimes literal rails. It’s ultimately G-d that has the answers, but He will doubtless highlight people to you with whom you should be connected for a time and may even uniquely highlight you to people who can help. Are all things truly possible?
Pause here for a bit before continuing…We’ve covered a lot, but we’re rounding the last turn.
Patterns and Road signs
It starts when we’re young. G-d is already at work in our lives when we’re still in diapers and learning to count. Though I’m not entirely sure which cartoon, movie or book captured my attention when I was a young boy, I got hooked on medieval heraldry. I loved watching sword fights, dreaming of lofty castles and being a knight – their ancient codes, enchanting notions of chivalry and brotherly stances against evil.
Here’s a few examples of major points I can remember:
- The Old Code
- Thundercats
- Sword in the Stone
- Man of La Manacha
- The Legend of Zelda (NES)
- The Legend of Zelda (TV Show)
- Excaliber
- Etc.
There were doubtless other references I can no longer remember, but my younger self took these hook, line and sinker…pole, fisherman, boots, tacklebox…like a Graboid.
Around 2009-2010 I began to think about what a family crest and coat-of-arms signify. My surname of Reyes is originally out of Spain and was introduced through my southern Mexican bloodline when Spain occupied the territory during the 16th century or thereabouts. I looked into it and found there was no meaningful connection. While I hold a strong bloodline connection (>25%) to that region, I have virtually no practical connection to it nor do I ever remember having any meaningful drive to attach myself to it. I don’t hate it. Nor am I disdainful towards it. It’s simply not a point of interest in me for whatever reason. My European heritage, however, always captured my attention. It slowly entered into my head that it would be cool to make my own coat-of-arms that could be built with the unique attachments to me, my immediate family traits and established characteristics we endeavor to hold to. That dream was shelved for nearly a decade.
When I finally revisited the idea of making a coat-of-arms in 2011, I found there are several slots to a coat each with significant meaning in and of themselves regardless of the image inserted. I’m not going into all those details here as they are readily available elsewhere.
The major sections include:
- Crest
- Helm
- Shield Supporters
- Shield
- Badges
- Motto
I found a company who had a list of different images and a rather unsettling amount of details surrounding the whole process. I went through each major section and picked a number of descriptions that jumped out at me. There was an obvious temptation is to pick a ton of high or lofty notions that have no practical attachment to the real people behind it, but I really wanted accuracy in place of flattery. And as a result, I decided to deliberately pray and consult G-d who certainly knows me better than I could ever know myself. I’m not a defective Acme tool in the hands of Wild E. Coyote. He made me with all of the uniqueness, oddities, perspectives and emotions that envelope me. As I went through the list of pictures and definitions it suffices to say that He was happy to help trim off some of the more ridiculous notions that initially captured my attention. He also highlighted some I probably wouldn’t have considered at all. It was a very fun exercise and discussion.
Before moving forward in the project which, if successful, would culminate in a final digital graphic, I did discuss this with several people who were close to me. Many were surprised, in a good way, about the results of my progress by that point. They shared their general agreement of what images I was leaning towards and their attached meanings. I’ve got to admit…I was surprised at their responses. There was a small nagging part of my mind that thought I was way off and was an honest embarrassment to think oh so highly of myself. Turns out it wasn’t me doing the nagging after all. Below are the default or raw definitions I kept from my notes back then.
- Crest (top)
- Owl: One who is vigilant and of acute wit
- Shield Supporters
- Bear: Strength, cunning, ferocity in the protection of one’s kindred
- Buck: One who will not fight unless provoked; peace and harmony
- Shield Emblems
- Beacon: One who is watchful, who gave the signal in time of danger
- Snapdragon: Graciousness and Strength
- Crow: Strategist in battle; watchful for friends; divine providence
- Drops: One who has endured torrents of liquid. The substance is determined by their color
- Blue: Tears
Each of these raw descriptions do not fully express the more granular meaning that was ultimately distilled, but you get the gist of it. Obviously, I nor my children fully exemplify each of these notions perfectly at all times, but these images encompass major components of our drive, personalities and goals. This project wasn’t and still isn’t about touting how great we are while we look down from an ivory tower. That’s wildly boring. This project was about discovering and unpacking my personal identity along with the legacy of my family from just one angle of one facet in one light.
The pattern I ultimately followed to develop this project was this:
- Vertical: Who am I according to G-d? Rhema and Word.
- Horizonal: Who am I according to others whom already bear honorable fruit in their lives?
- Time: What legacy am I seeding in the path I leave for others after me?
- Epicenter: Do the results have legs? Do I actually believe it or am I stuck in mere acknowledgement?
Below is what the design turned into.
Singulare Aude – Dare to be Unique
If there is one thing we need in this age it’s a holy boldness to go, to do and to share, but it always starts on the inside between G-d and you. The motto for myself and my family is to have the kosher brazenness, the boldness, the tenacity to be who we are regardless of the noise, naysayers and hissing whisperers around us. This isn’t about being weird for weirdness sake. This isn’t about ignoring good council with a heart full of arrogance or unteachableness. In and of itself, those notions are dangerous for many reasons already. This is about living out the audacity to be who we’ve been made to be in G-d through Christ. This will accomplish much.
Some years ago, G-d had directed me to the materials of a minister named Ed Dufrense. I really enjoyed his frankness, his guilelessness, his paternal means of communication and the love he conveyed. That love bordered on sugar free and it was amazing! There was actual nutrition in it. Many years after I had gleaned much from him and his materials, I read that he passed away suddenly in an plane crash. I was stunned. I remember crying at my desk and asking G-d why this happened. We needed men like him and I got an almost instant very real reply…“His work is done. It’s your turn now.” Dare to open your box.
Philippians 1:3-6
‘I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
To be continued in Ending the Mirror War.