Most parents can understand the reality of being followed – usually by little people. For adults, stalking is not advisable. But one way or another, we are following something in life, or someone. It’s part of what makes us tick, who we are.
But, just who are you? While some get depressed at the years fleeting by and not having accomplished all they want to be, the age old, "Who am I?" is the deeper question. It's more about who we are than it is what we want to be. We’re not as lucky as Simon, son of John. One “hard” look at Simon and Jesus says, "You're a rock!" Albeit a crumbling rock at first, but one thing is certain. Peter's identity is very much rooted in his relationship to Jesus. Jesus is one who contronts you with the reality of yourself today – “you are.”
Do you really know yourself? Not the “you” your friends think you are. Do you know what kind of person you are? Are you stubborn? Cooperative? Weak? Humble? Strong? Conceited? Forgiving? Are you relaxed? Nervous? Vindictive? You need to know the kind of person you are. But along with self-knowledge comes self-acceptance. Believing that you’re nothing, pretending that we’re something is not Jesus’ plan. He has a plan, a new possibility of yourself tomorrow -“you shall be.” You won’t be going it alone in 2006, he will travel with you from “you are” to “you shall be.”
(Comments to Tom at tomascox@eircom.net )