“I am alive with Christ” (Ephesians 2:5)
“What are you thinking about?” “Living. I know it’s kid stuff or whatever. You know I always thought I would be a hero. I wish that I would have a grand story to tell, you know something they would publish in all the papers. I mean I was supposed to be special.” “You are special.” “Yes, I know, but you know what I mean.” “I do know what you mean. I just don’t agree with you.”
Okay, it plays out better in the movie. It’s a conversation between Augustus Waters and his girlfriend, Hazel Grace Lancaster. The two teenagers are both facing life with terminal illnesses in the 2014 theatrical release of The Fault in Our Stars. It’s a story about growing up far too quickly and an effort to find meaning in this life with little time left to do so.
Each of us wants to be remembered for who we are, but as we face the end of summer and find another Labor Day weekend approaching – it’s strange how in characterizing ‘who we are’ it is often related to our occupation. When we meet someone new, one of the first things we ask is, “So what do you do?” It gives us the chance to say that we are a nurse, an architect, a teacher, or an accountant. It also provides opportunity to feel inferior if we are unemployed, “just a housewife” or in that “I used to be” retired status. While what we spend the bulk of our life doing highly contributes to our being, it in no way solely defines who we are.
In fact, who we are is not always as others see us or perceive us to be. It’s a question that Jesus asked those closest to him. “And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, ‘Who do the people say that I am?’ ” (Luke 9:18). Just like us, people viewed Him differently. “They told Him, saying, ‘John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets’ (Luke 9:19). And He continued by questioning them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘You are the Christ’ ” (Mark 8:29). Who do we say that Jesus is? Unlike our occupation or any worldly accomplishments we have made, our response to this question will formulate how we live and what we value. Our answer may determine our eternal destiny as well.
So can we fully answer the question who Jesus is without also responding to the subject of who we are? Maybe not. If we return to the dialogue in our movie, I want to enlighten Augustus and Hazel Grace that they are special. They are important because they are children of God. All they need to do is believe. “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith” (Galatians 3:26). No matter how young or old we are, we belong to a loving Father who watches over us. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are” (1 John 3:1). Being a Child of God is the great equalizer. No longer does it matter what we did to make a living. It’s more about who we are living for. Henri Nouwen said, “As long as we continue to live as if we are what we do, what we have, and what other people think about us, we will remain filled with judgments, opinions, evaluations, and condemnations. We will remain addicted to putting people and things in their “right” place.” I don’t know about you, but that’s just not who I am.
REFLECTION: When you meet someone new, what kind of questions do you ask to find out what kind of person they are? How do you describe yourself to others when they inquire who you are? Who is Jesus for you? Is Jesus Lord of your life? Do you find peace in knowing that you are one of His?
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