A New Identity

Our day to day lives have changed quite a bit over the past few weeks. I hope everyone is navigating our mandated shelter-in-place well. It's more challenging for ALL of us to conduct business, and seems to force us to go back to the basics in a lot of ways. We are relying on the roots of community, support, help, and hope. People are still celebrating birthdays, having babies, recognizing anniversaries and falling in love. Our connection to one another is somehow stronger than ever.

I reflect back on my January blog post, mentioning how 2020 was going to be more focused on Service this year. Boy…I had no idea how significant this proclamation was going to be.

We’ve heard a lot about “Essential businesses” over the past few weeks. Many of our identities have been challenged. What will a “new normal” look like, a theme that was often discussed even before the beginning of 2020. Many of us ask, “how can I anchor myself” given this ever changing environment? 

On the surface, it seems we’re a “collection of contradictory someone’s”. We’re a lot of things at the same time: a husband or wife, a provider, an employee. We’re used to balancing many aspects of our identities all at the same time. But what happens when one of these pillars of our identities become radically altered? Professional athletes often times can go through this, if they experience career-ending injuries. They might ask the question of “Who am I now?” “My whole life I was ‘this’, but now who am I?” It forces us to realize that we aren’t what we do. We tend to define ourselves by what we do, but there needs to be a healthy differentiation between who we are & what we do.

We need to remember to have grace for one another…and offer a little bit of grace to ourselves as well. It’s a challenging season. Take this as an opportunity to get to know each other better. Getting closer is better than living further apart. Get to know others, and thus take the opportunity to serve each other.

Throughout the next few months, we're wanting to assist Hope Supply Co. with gathering critically needed resources including diapers, hygiene items, school supplies, toys and clothing to homeless and at-risk children. They are in very short supply at this time. Please don't hesitate to let me know if you might have any of these needed items available for donation. Our first drop off last week went well, and look forward to more deliveries in the future. It is requested that all items are NEW. Every Friday I've scheduled to do pick ups from your home (front porch) & drop donated items off at Hope Supply Co. Info & mission of Hope Supply Co. can be found here:

From a religious doctrine, those who serve are the greatest in the Kingdom. As we serve one another, we become essential in the eyes of God.

Blessings of good health to you & your family. - David Shaw