“’The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.’ John 1:4-5 NLT” (Erickson, 21).
Who am I? I can look in the mirror and describe to you what I see. I see my radiant black skin that I have learned to love despite the pressures growing up not to. I see my mass – something that I am being reminded to lose, not for a holistic reason but for social acceptance and confidence. I see the slit in my eyebrow that I request my barber to make, to be defiant to the shackles of tradition from the home I grew up in. I see so much more, things that people may see when they look at me without having any context of why they exist. Yet, if any of these things on the surface, that have a deep connection to me, were to change – would I still be myself?
As I write this and reflect on Erickson’s work, I cannot help but think of the thought experiment called, “The Ship of Theseus.” A boat crew returns from sea having to replace more and more decayed and broken planks and oars. The discussion that divided philosophers was based around the authenticity of the ship. Is the Ship of Theseus still the same ship if it is renovated, repaired, or has parts replaced? Are we the same if parts of us are replaced?
Who am I? There is something in each one of us that is persevering. Something untouchable and inextinguishable that is at the core of who we are – beyond our education, skin color, social class, age, etc. Our essence, our soul. I wonder if this is what identifies us as truly made in the image of God? This impression in each of us is what I imagine when Paul talks about how each one of us is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7). That thing in us that draws us for the common good, the goodness of others, the benefit of whatever is outside of ourselves, starting with a focus on the vulnerable, I believe that is our unique spark.
Now I must ask myself, “What is my untouchable identity?”
I have this desire to be with people. Not because I feel lonely and need someone present to cope, not to appease my nature as defined by various personality inventory tests, but because I have this tug in my heart to be present. To be present in the lives of the people around me. No matter where I go, no matter the things I like or want, since I was a kid, I always had this desire. As Erickson puts it, as I began to read about Jesus and know Jesus personally, I felt more compelled to pursue this desire and receive the life Jesus exemplifies through it. This is my spark. This is my untouchable identity that will take a lifetime to unpack, but is easier to understand the more I let Jesus illuminate it.
This Advent Season, my hope is that we can lean into the untouchable identity in each one of us, and that we will use our internal spark for the common good, to the betterment of our societies, to love like Jesus.
Ben Amoah is the youth pastor at La Sierra University Church and recently found a new love in collecting different hot sauces (preferably ones that have a sweetness to them).