What are humans that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Psalm 8:4

Who are we? Who are you? Do we truly know? We can look at this from so many different perspective, never agreeing on a single answer. When the psalmist asks, I do believe he is reflecting on the creation stories where God gives humans an important place in the scheme of life.  Humans have been given the task to care for themselves and the created world, ensuring its sustainability. 

However I ask this question many times when I experience the sudden death of someone I know well.  Here today and gone tomorrow.  We ponder what exactly is the purpose of life. I ask for different reasons from the psalmist.  I am given to thinking that each of us is made with a purpose in mind. Our purpose is through our lives others learn what to do and what not to do. We are examples and lessons to be learnt.  As we choose the ‘who’ we are to be, the lessons we share brings us closer to God. 

Have you ever considered that our various statements of faith speak to who God and Jesus are very clearly, but not humans. They reference Salvation, but not to humans.  Our various professions or should I say confessions of faith do not mention humans as the originators or patrons. Our purpose then while important may not be as significant as we think. It is not about us, but God and God’s divine plan. Our purpose is to fulfill that plan as God leads. Ours is the task to not compartmentalize or separate life into discrete areas, by thinking that some things are of God and others are ungodly. We have the responsibility to care for all. There is a common belief that some of us belong to God and others don’t. who we are in God’s sight then is dependent on our self esteem. If low, God cant love us, if high and egotistical its only us that God loves.

But it is that everything belongs. Life is life. God is God. Humans have many sides to them, – physical emotional spiritual but they work in tandem for the functioning of the whole persons.  The scientist, philosopher, psychologists all view humans differently.  But who we are as humans boil down to one thing, we are all children of God. Romans 8:14 ‘says, “for all who are led by the spirit of God are children of God.” Genesis 2 tells us that God spirit gave us the breath of life. If we are God’s children, then God cares very deeply what happens to each of us.  Who we see ourselves as though may be very different as we do not all acknowledge God as our creator and father. Humans are God’s children and God cares deeply for us.  As God’s children God has entrusted the care of the rest of the world to us.  We are not rulers over anything, but caretakers of ourselves and the rest of creation.  We each bear witness as unique individuals to a common life, created and orchestrated by God. May God enable us to be who God says we are.

May the strength of God pilot us. May the power of God preserve us. May the wisdom of God instruct us. May the hand of God protect us. May the way of God direct us. May the shield of God defend us. May the host of God guard us against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world. May Christ be with us, Christ before us, Christ in us, Christ over us. May your Salvation, 0 Lord, be always ours this day and for evermore. Amen.