What are your life questions and symbols?

What are your central life quest-ions? Mine have been about what is authentic spirituality; and how to integrate our creative symbolic dimension into our true identity. Both are solved in Christ. Since I met God first in art dreams and vision as a kid, I’ve wondered about how to bring together creativity and true identity.

I wondered what it meant to lose your life to find your real name. When Jesus told Peter his name, it was after Peter had seen who Jesus was. We find identity, by seeing and entering Jesus’ identity. But there was more to it.
Our new names get conformed by and into His, so that we find ourselves, hidden in Him. But this does more than progressively reveal who we are to ourselves; it also brings together parts of our selves which were before broken apart or dormant.

It engages our creativity and every other aspect of who we are. Since, Jesus is Lord over the whole person, we are free to create, and let that be part of our relationship with Christ.

Identity and integration have been my two major life topics. And I continue both to become more myself in Him, and to express from that deep core relational center with Christ. The two work in tandem and inform one another.
God loves the whole of me; God is One; His Son is Lord over my whole self. There is not a part of me where He is not meant to be Lord, including my creativity. These were lessons I got from my quest.

I often ask people:what are your central recurring life questions? And where are you at on your journey to answer them. This lets me see a bit of their map, and help offer what I might have to help them in this current season.

Knowing your central motivating questions over seasons helps you navigate, and know where you are in your story. So helps you think what you might need next.
For instance, I’m drawn to those who were further along in authentic spirituality, and integration of their creativity. People like Merton, Nouwen and others. Mainly for their example in living, as much as their particular teachings, though in their cases, i like their unique teachings.

They had integrated more than me in Christ by the end of their lives, and both had their creativity intact as well. So I learn from such men and women.
Most of my mentors knew what God was trying to highlight through their own lives as well!

For me identity and authenticity and His creative freedom are spotlighted. For other friends, other aspects of who God is. When i meet people, i try to see what part of God they are meant to highlight, and help that shine.
I’ve always been drawn to very singular or unique people. Like many of my uncles who were very eccentric and one of a kind. That’s partly because of my own identity and calling!

Often artist are used to highlight God’s enjoyment of unique identity!
It’s just one aspect of who God is: identity and creativity; but a very important one to have around to keep things interesting!

Regardless of what you highlight about who God is, it’s important to know your life’s quest-ions! As it is to know your most basic symbols. The most basic symbols of your life. Name, say, your three recurring life symbols. If you were a book, what is the theme? That’s one way into identity! If you can’t say, then ask Jesus to reveal them to you! He will.

And then show you where they are blocked in expression, and what needs to be cleared (usually through forgiveness and grieving and planting new life in that place!)

That’s the healing or being made whole process in the area of personal identity. It’s worth the work to be formed in Him.