We become the things we’ve done
Today was a look back at my past. I looked up old friends, read about their lives, reminisced about my younger years, and listened to old songs. One song in particular that jumped out at me was a Third Eye Blind song called “Blinded”. One section of the song says,
“Time passes and it tells us what we’re left with
We become the things we do
Me I’m a fool, spent from defiance, yeah you got me but
I didn’t give up on you…”
That part, “We become the things we do.” jumped out at me. I have been really pondering what makes up someone. When someone says, “This is who I am.” what are they really saying? Are we the things we do? Are we the things we can do? OR Are we the things that are given to us?
I would venture a guess that what makes us up is what is given to us. I mean if we are what we do then I am a cook and that alone. If I am what I can do then that means my abilities determine my worth…BUT if what I am is what has been given to me then I am much more than what I can see. I have been given love from above, I have been given mercy, compassion etc. The list goes on and on. So does that automatically make me those things? NO, but it does set me on a path.
Who we are in Christ is what we become. We don’t become Christ, but we reflect the very nature of Him. We reflect His life and love because that is what is given to us. For me to say, “God has made me to be this or that.” is no small thing. I will become like Christ because Christ is what was given to me.
I hope that rambling makes some sense. Join me in the discussion because I’m still exploring what this means. Who has made you to be? What are you becoming because what we are becoming looks much different than what we are now.
Dustin
October 25th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Dustin -
You’ve hit on something that is foundational to life. Understanding who we are. “Know Thyself” dates back to the times of Plato and Socrates. I believe that we, as humans, are made up of 4 things and one is very crucial to how successful we live this life.
1. Education
2. Exposure
3. Experience
4. Arrogance / Humility
Each of us are educated in life, at some shape, form, or fashion. Be it home schooling, private, or public - we are taught certain things in life and that shapes us into the person we become. We are exposed to a lot of different things as we grow up. And lastly we experience some things. Finally, our paradigm is set by our own ability to be humble or puffed up in arrogance.
So yes a part of me believes, “We become the things we do” but that is not really who we are. Paul says in Romans: I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do–this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
In this discourse Paul is at war with himself. Don’t we all find ourselves there? Battling in our mind about the things we do, the person we’ve become?
I would then say even if something is given to you, you still must accept it. It is not forced on you, but there is an internal desire to choose it. We have a choice. In 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Dr. Covey says, there is stimulus and response. If you put space between the two of these you have a choice. And it is this choice that you make that sets you on that path (I agree).
Who we are is a very deep issue that requires a lot of soul searching and understanding of what exactly is the point of the questions. I do agree that Christ influences our life and lifestyle but only to the degree in which we will desire it and allow him.
Thanks for letting me ramble
October 25th, 2008 at 9:24 am
One more thing, Paul states: “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” So with that statement who are we really? I would like to say, we are what we desire to be at any given moment.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Very interesting topic here. I HATE the question that I get so often at college homecomings or in meeting old friends, “So, what do you do?” or “What are you up to?”. For some reason our jobs define who we are. “I’m a teacher.” “I’m a janitor.” etc. I hate it. The conversation is almost always the same:
A. What are you up to? (What is your job?)
B. Are you married/have kids?
C. Where do you live?
That’s really it. In that order. It’s so annoyingly like a script when I meet up with someone. While I have nothing to hide in my answers to the above questions, I’ve always felt like I’m so much more than those 3 things.
I agree that we are more than this. But I don’t know that I fully agree with we are what we are given. Aren’t we all given the gift of eternal life and the grace of God? So I agree with Paul, it is what we do with that gift that remains the question of who we are. And I guess the question really should be rephrased - who are we today? who are we eternally? In essence the answers should be the same…but are they??