Do you know who you are? Does this seem like a silly question? Yet a comprehension of identity is not as simple as looking at the name written on your official documents. Understanding it involves a search. Marketers are delighted to assist you in this task. They know how great your desire is for an identity and they are pleased to sell you one for a price. Yet a real identity is not built on brand preferences. Do you want to find the real you? Your real identity may be hidden under a pile of attachments, so finding it may have more to do with releasing than acquiring.

Do you see science and faith as being enemies? They are often presented as intractable foes but it doesn’t have to be this way. What is your response when you hear about new discoveries concerning the heavens and the earth? Does it fill you with awe and wonder to learn new information about the things that I have created? You can do this whether those making the discoveries are believers  or not. The things that I have made are expressions of me and the earth reflects my glory. Do you think of watching a science documentary as a religious experience? It can be.

When I began to look with the eyes of my heart to see Jesus, Immanuel, God with me, I saw Him as King David did. I beheld Him at my right hand (Acts 2:25; Ps. 16:8). And the amazing thing is that He was laughing hilariously. He was having such a good time. His whole face was lit up with joy and peace and comfort and laughter. His word to me was, “Mark, lighten up, I’ve got it all under control.” You see, at that point in my life I seldom laughed. I lived with stress and fear and workaholism, so laughter did not appear very often.

Who do you see as the least of these? Do you automatically and only think of the poor? There are people who have their basic needs met who are in even more dire conditions. What about those who are alienated and isolated? The branch cannot bear fruit apart from the vine. This refers to me, but the same concept extends to human community. At that point it doesn’t matter whether you have much money or none. Can you see me in all of these? You can give money to the poor to relieve their condition. What can you do for the alienated and isolated to integrate them into the human community?