At the ordination of our new associate pastor Audrey today, one of the comments that really stuck out for me was something to the effect of "we don't make ourselves." It got spun a few ways, and my mind started trolling on this statement, so I don't have the authors straight, but preacher Christy and pastor Audrey both contributed to these thoughts.
The reality that others make us, we don't make ourselves, is absolutely contradictory to the great American claim to self-sufficiency, "boot-strap" success, and individualism. We're instructed from our infancy that we can make ourselves into anything we want. Well, that's just not true. We can certainly obstruct growth into full grown, creative, loving humans, but we can't make ourselves into these things all by ourselves. It does take a community of teachers, mentors, friends, antagonists, and people experiences to become who we are, for better or for worse.
Pastor Audrey also observed that we pastors can't decide that we're going to be a pastor. We're only pastors by virtue of the call of the community that we serve. We do not engage others with deep spiritual matters unless the other invites us into their life or places themself voluntarily in a situation where they hear from us, engage with us, consider what it is we have to offer.
Finally, these thoughts took me to what I think is the bottom line. We don't make ourselves because it is God who has made us. Psalm 100:3 says it succinctly: Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Thanks for the reminder Audrey. And congratulations on your ordination, pastor!
Jonathan- found you through twitter- this is a great post! I wrote about this very subject recently, When I Grow up. Look forward to reading more on your blog. Thanks.
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