Discovery - Who am I?

As Jesus walked beside the SEa of Galilee, he saw Simon an dhis brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  Come , follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men.  At once they left their nets and followed him.  Mark 1:16-18

 

One of the ever entrancing aspects of the story of Jesus is how his followers seem to discover themselves while in relationship with him.  For Simon this seems to be a continual process throughout this life.  At Ceasaria Phillipi when Jesus asks him who do men say that I am - who do you say that I am - I call you Peter and on this rock I will build my church.  At the Lords supper, at the washing of his feet, during his denial in the garden, at his reinstatement after the reserrection, in the Jerusalem council.  What an on going story of self discovery connected to God discovery.

 

Recently, I did an on line search for Tim White and I found a few names that I had already come into contact with a noted professor of Anthropology, a reporter for Rolling stone magazine, and a wrestling Icon.  One way or another I have some funny stories about mistaken people about which Tim White I am.  Like the time I was given Tim White's hotel room at Orange County and a food basket was delivered.  My wife kept getting phone calls asking if there was a party in our room.  Finally she asked about the calls and she was told Tim White is a wrestling Icon.  She said, I have been married to Tim White for many years and he is not a professional wrestler.  The guy argued with her.  Is this a big guy with a beard.  She said yes.  He asked does he work a lot in the evenings.  She said yes.  Well he said, than I am sorry but he is a professional wrestler.  When I came back to the room she asked me if I have been a professional wrestler ever in my life!  It was really wierd doing a search on the name Tim White.  The wrestler has tried to commit suicide by dropping a toaster in his bath tub, sufficating him self with a plastic bag and varioius other horrifying senarios.  Who is the real Tim White?  Well we all are.  In some cases Tim D. White is even very popoular combination of names.

As for this Tim White, I am have poured more of my life into being a local pastor of Washington Cathedral than I ever thought I would.  I am a husband of 32 years, a father and a soon to be grandfather.  I love to read philosophy, history and science. I love sports, dogs, the mountains, wild life, common people, politics, golf, (as in the words of Charles Barclay Golf does not qualify as a sport because skinny rich kids can be very good at it) And I would love to meet in person the other Tim White's.  I have never really watched Big time wrestling but as an athelete in highschool the wrestlers were always the tough guys who would just take on anyone.  I tried to keep them as my friends because I did not want them as my enemies.  And I have never read rolling stone magazine.  I don't know why but I would love to have lunch with a reporter and learn something about our culture. 

 

Who am I now that I am in my 50's and the world is ever changing.  Sometimes I would love to just go join the peace corps and try to help do something about Africa or Latin America's poor.  I am still discovering who my kids are and my wife Jackie still amazes me all the time.  Do you know who you are - right now - tomorrow?  Jesus invites us into this life long process of discover with him as a guide.  I think Guide is a good term because he certainly doesn't disclose it all at once.  And what he does disclose about us an the people we love - well we have a hard time living up to that as long as we live.

 

Maybe behind Moses seeking out the burning bush, or John the Baptist living in the desert or Abram changing his name to Abraham is this continual process of discover that we are all invited to be a part of.  At the edge of a new year I embrace this discovery with more enthusiasm than I have ever had.  But I am equally excited to discover the peope I am around.  The artists who painted portraits that intrigue us are just a sample of the real thing.  The spirit of the creator in everything he has created.  Glaciers, prehistoric man, big time wrestlers, rock and roll writers and simple pastors.  And you...