“I am who I am”
According to the Old Testament book of Exodus, Chapter 3, 13-15:
“Then Moses said to God, “If i come to the people of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you, ‘and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, “The lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”
The poet Hugh Prather in his book Notes to Myself, shares “My prayer is: I will be what I will be and I will do what I do. All I want to do is stay in rhythm with myself. All is want is to do what I do and not try to do what I don’t do. Just do what I do. Just keep peace with myself. Just be what I will be.”
It seems us human are always attempting to be more than we are; scolding ourselves in some way for what we have or have not been able to do. It also seems as if we often posit this concept of God who is going to expect us to do better than we are doing, a God who has this fragile ego which is dependent on humans calling Him, Her, It by the “right” name” and constantly giving praise. This god’s mood is also dependent on whether or not humans behave in a way, which is non- human.
In Exodus, the phrase Elohim translated, as “I am who I am” suggest something quite different. It suggest that humans need to quit imagining God in their own image with all the human characteristics of a fragile ego which constantly needs praise and whose acceptance and love is dependent on the list which he/she/it has been keeping and checking twice. Just like the threat of the construct of Santa Clause one always knows that the list will prove that one has fallen short and only deserves coal.
Hugh Prather in his poem suggests what I understand Jesus to have said. It is enough to be us. It is only by accepting that we are enough that we are free to be our best.
Most of us do not need to consult the list with Santa Clause or God is keeping. We often say to ourselves, “I should have. If only I had done x behavior. I was too hard on that person or in that situation. Surely I was the worst friend, neighbor, parent, son, daughter, employer or … The irony is that when we spend energy going over and decrying the list we are not able to be our best today.
Soon, Christians will celebrate the birth of that strange fellow, Jesus. It is that same fellow whose disciples kept scolding him for forgetting to consult the list before deciding how to treat others. It is same fellow who upon seeing Judas greets him with a hug and a kiss.
The challenge of Christmas is always the same. It is the challenge to show up in all our human nakedness and accept unconditional love. It is the challenge of seeing ourselves in the nakedness of others.
I am who I am.
Written December 21, 2107
According to the Old Testament book of Exodus, Chapter 3, 13-15:
“Then Moses said to God, “If i come to the people of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you, ‘and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you” God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel, “The lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.”
The poet Hugh Prather in his book Notes to Myself, shares “My prayer is: I will be what I will be and I will do what I do. All I want to do is stay in rhythm with myself. All is want is to do what I do and not try to do what I don’t do. Just do what I do. Just keep peace with myself. Just be what I will be.”
It seems us human are always attempting to be more than we are; scolding ourselves in some way for what we have or have not been able to do. It also seems as if we often posit this concept of God who is going to expect us to do better than we are doing, a God who has this fragile ego which is dependent on humans calling Him, Her, It by the “right” name” and constantly giving praise. This god’s mood is also dependent on whether or not humans behave in a way, which is non- human.
In Exodus, the phrase Elohim translated, as “I am who I am” suggest something quite different. It suggest that humans need to quit imagining God in their own image with all the human characteristics of a fragile ego which constantly needs praise and whose acceptance and love is dependent on the list which he/she/it has been keeping and checking twice. Just like the threat of the construct of Santa Clause one always knows that the list will prove that one has fallen short and only deserves coal.
Hugh Prather in his poem suggests what I understand Jesus to have said. It is enough to be us. It is only by accepting that we are enough that we are free to be our best.
Most of us do not need to consult the list with Santa Clause or God is keeping. We often say to ourselves, “I should have. If only I had done x behavior. I was too hard on that person or in that situation. Surely I was the worst friend, neighbor, parent, son, daughter, employer or … The irony is that when we spend energy going over and decrying the list we are not able to be our best today.
Soon, Christians will celebrate the birth of that strange fellow, Jesus. It is that same fellow whose disciples kept scolding him for forgetting to consult the list before deciding how to treat others. It is same fellow who upon seeing Judas greets him with a hug and a kiss.
The challenge of Christmas is always the same. It is the challenge to show up in all our human nakedness and accept unconditional love. It is the challenge of seeing ourselves in the nakedness of others.
I am who I am.
Written December 21, 2107
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