Who are you?

So, it's been a while since I last wrote anything.. but recently (meaning over the last few years), I have been learning one of the most valuable lessons I think anyone could ever learn: who I am. Not the easy "I'm Ethan" type thing, but the real place my identity lies.

Think of it like this, if someone introduced themselves to you, what would they say? "Hi, I'm Ethan, I'm a mechanical engineer and I like sports". Yep, that's one way to do it. Maybe they say where they are from, maybe they say how many kids they have or who they are married to. The list goes on. It all boils down to what makes up our identity. That's a word that is easy on the surface, but means so much to us every single day. Our identity can be the things we do, people we know, or skills we have just to name a few. It is the core of who we are. Stop and think for a minute.

If I asked you to "Identify yourself", what would you say?

Really? Are you sure? Okay.

How important are those things you just said? If you lost your job, got a divorce, or lost that great skill you once had, how would it affect you? Would your whole world be turned upside down? Probably. Here's an example: for the better part of 20 years, I was a baseball player. It was who I was, it was what I did, where I spent my time, what I excelled at. I often introduced myself as "Ethan, the baseball player". Baseball was second only to my name. Essentially, my identity.

There's one problem with that, baseball ended. Summer 2013, baseball was over. Done. Get this, the game doesn't miss me. People are still playing. I'm not, but the game has gone on. There were some tough times going through the transition. Lots of adjustments. Thankfully over my last year and a half playing, there were tough circumstances and unmet expectations that drew my heart out of the game and in to the one thing I knew would never leave me, Jesus.

Now, I knew Jesus and had a relationship with Him since I was a child but having such a large chunk of my identity removed changed things. That space that baseball used to occupy had to be refilled with something. To me, there was only one thing, Jesus. I was driven to Him in times of struggle. When baseball was going all wrong and was near the end. Thank God for that too. I've seen many of my friends struggle with losing the sport they loved. REALLY struggle. And who can blame them? What if you lost your job?  How about your health? Maybe a child? Or spouse?

All of those things are good things but they all change. Kids grow up, companies evolve, health changes over the years. But Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He promises that.

So, back to the original question. Who are you? Aka Where's your identity? Or whats most important to you? I was challenged recently to really think about that question. If I really follow Jesus, then He should be of ultimate importance, and I should be solely rooted in Him. And I know for a fact He is the best thing for any and every person on the face of this planet, then shouldn't I answer that question with "I'm Ethan and I follow Jesus"? After all, there's nothing that carries more weight than the name of Jesus.

A little food for thought...

If you follow Jesus, why wouldn't your answer be I'm ____ and I follow Jesus? He is that important. He has to be.

If you don't know Jesus, what if the things in your answer suddenly changed? What would happen then? Where would it leave you?

My Wedding Day Prayer.

I can't explain how excited I am to marry Casey today for so many reasons, the greatest of which is her love for Jesus. She has helped me grow in my faith over the past 2 years and I'm looking forward to many years of growing closer together and closer to Jesus with her.

I just felt like a little kid at Christmas this morning. Nervous? No. Excited? You bet! Marriage is God's greatest gift to us outside of Himself. He created us relational, to be known AND loved despite the things we can't seem to love about ourselves. A Christ centered marriage is so mucha reflection of that. I can't love her in a way I should. I'm human. Imperfect. A sinner. But I can allow Jesus to help me love her in ways I would otherwise be incapable of.

Marriage note aside... I woke up this morning thinking of all the guests who will be celebrating with us later. Those who know Jesus. Those who don't. Those we've become friends with over the past 6 months or the past 20 years. While thinking about them, my heart broke. I was ecstatic they would be celebrating with us today, but incredibly saddened by those I know personally, who don't have a relationship with the Savior of the world. I plead with Jesus. Marriage is such a reflection of who He is and what He's done for us. It just hit me. I REALLY want the gospel to go out today. I know it's an important day for Casey and I, but its not about us. IT'S NOT. It's about the One who created and sustains us. The One who brought us together. So my prayer this morning isn't for my nerves, Casey's nerves, or a fun time, but a time FILLED with the gospel. A time today that would solely proclaim the name of JESUS. I'm not worthy of having people celebrate me. I want them to see the One who is worthy of all worship and celebration. I pray that our time will not be so focused on us that we forget the real reason to celebrate, the real reason to live, the reason to love.

So, I'm getting married. Awesome!

Jesus' name will be proclaimed. THAT'S what really got me pumped for today. For those who don't often hear of the love of Jesus. For those who have hard hearts toward Him. For those who have never seen the gospel put into practice. Those are the ones I pray for today. That they would see and experience Jesus first hand at a celebration they may not have thought was FOR that.

So let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2


For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:14-19

Seek to experience Jesus today. I promise you'll be forever changed.