Last week during Sunday School, we had a guest speaker who came in to focus on mental health from a biblical perspective. This presentation was part of Mental Health Awareness Month (May).  The presenter gave us a sheet of paper and asked us to write an introduction of ourselves.  I struggled mightily. It is not something that I had done in quite some time. In my past, I introduced myself quite often. That doesn’t happen like it used to transpire. 

As many of you know, I worked in higher education for many years. When I introduced myself back then, I shared my story of my life and educational experiences in hopes that it would inspire others. I felt that that work was God’s calling for me — helping students to access and complete their college education. It was my “calling card”. 

Also, I was involved in the community. I grew up in a small community where taking care of others was important, so being involved in whatever community that I lived was important to me. I wanted to always highlight community work and its importance. That was part of who I was. 

Since last year, I have not had either the work in higher education to fulfill me, or the opportunity to be involved in the community in the ways that I had in the past. Therefore, this task of articulating who I am was difficult. Those things that had defined me in the past were gone. 

I think for all of us, this sense of trying to figure out who we are happens. Your experience may not have transpired in the way that mine did (I pray that no one ever has to experience that.), but it happens. For some, it is retirement. For some, it is becoming empty nesters. For some, it is a career change. For others, it is a loss of a loved one. Whatever the stimulus, there are times when we feel a void in our lives, and we question who we truly are. 

It is important to know that you are loved, and you bring so much to the table. God has granted you so many gifts, and He wants you to know that you are more than just that one thing that may be gone or not a part of your life. Understanding your value at all times is so important. In some cases, we define ourselves by titles, the groups that we affiliate with, the car that we drive, or the house that we live in. Those things are all temporary. Realizing who you are and what is at the core of your being has to be a priority. Checking our priorities in life should be an assessment that should be done sooner more so than later. Don’t wait to you have that void. Define who you are now, and remember it is not about stuff and titles. It’s your core values. If all of the material things are gone, who are you, and what do you bring to the table/world?  What is most important to you? Contemplate those questions, and when you discover those things, embrace them. Make them the most important things in your life. Know who you are at your core. If you realize that now and throughout your life, you will find true happiness and peace.