Who am I?

I think I know who I am, really, but sometimes I still wonder. I'm not trying to "find myself," like I used to hear some people say. But sometimes it helps just to stop and think about who I am. I'm going to list some of the different roles I fill in life, because that's what determines who I am, I guess. So here goes.

1. First of all I'm a seeker, seeking to follow Jesus in my life on a daily basis. That's the bottom line.

2. I'm the son of Henry and Anna, the grandson of Joe and Susan, and of Mary and Christian K. Plus many other ancestors.

3. I'm the husband of Clara, the father of Carol, Gordon, Ron, Lynne, the grandfather of nine granddaughters and two grandsons, and the great grandfather of two little boys.

4. I'm an anabaptist - not anti-baptist - one of those who are neither Catholic or Protestant, just Anabaptists. I have some beliefs which are peculiar to anabaptists, which I'll not go into here, but perhaps sometime.

5. I'm a retired pastor, ordained in the Mennonite Church by my father in 1958. I'm very happy to have been able to serve Christ and the church in this way for 40 years.

6. I'm a member of Hesston Mennonite Church and one of six elders in our church. This is a different role for me but one which has given me a way to serve this congregation.

7. I'm a neighbor and friend. I seek to find ways to relate to those I live near and those with whom I come in contact here at Schowalter Villa.

8. I'm a woodworker of sorts, using talents I have learned through the years to make a variety of things in the shop, mostly to give away or sell, a few to keep around the house.

9. I'm a physical person, still, for who knows how long, dealing with some of the results of aging and of being subject to physical deficiencies that cause problems. I'm thankful for a healing God and for modern medical people and the things they use to help us get better.

10. I'm a spiritual person, looking forward to being with the Lord throughout eternity in the place He is preparing for me.

There, that's quite a list, but somehow it helps me just to sit and think about who I am in this way. Perhaps it will help me be better at all the different roles I find myself involved in. Do you know who you are?

And by the way, I'm a -

Pilgrim on the way