"Who and What" or "What and Who"? (part 1 of 4)

At some point in our lives, we've all been asked two questions that speak to others' interest in our lives.

Who are you? What do you want to be?

For the most part, the first question is usually part of a standard, polite inquiry when an acquaintence is made. "Who are you?"

Attention span and focus typically last long enough to take in a name, which we may or may not remember 10 minutes later, and maybe a few anecdotal facts. ...Jane's daughter, Manager of this or that.... I'm sorry..who are you again?

Starting this thought process out...Is your name the primary definer of who you are?

My name is Bill. Bill Petty.

My name, in and of itself, is not sufficent to speak to who I am. It does say something about me. I am a Petty...that's strong. Bill is a man's name, so that helps portray me to a point. Male... But, after a general introduction, the next question is inevitibly...Are you related to Tom? Or...Richard? As if being me isn't sufficient. I know that's not the intent. People always look for connections, which they feel answers more of the Who Are You question.

Look further into the Who..consider the scripture as Jesus spoke to his disciples in Matthew 16:13-17. The Who Are You question has an interesting twist...

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah(annointed one), the Son of the living God.”

The answer to "they say" comes in the form of names. So.. okay, these names carried some rather hefty weight and identity, but the response is interesting considering the response to the second question of "Who do YOU say that I am?" You are the Messiah. The Son of the living God.

Powerful, though provoking..and even dangerous in these times. Responding with names could also be a preview into the second answer, as the disciples respond to the question dealing with an external audience with that which is ultimately non-defining of Christ. The response from their own understanding is much deeper and speaks specifically to who He is, which includes what he is.

We want our name to represent who we are...but that requires a connection of what we are, and that requires effort and thought and decisions. This is an ongoing topic, and the content is under development.

Conclude Part 1 of 4 for now. Stay tuned...