Me: Hi, My name is Jeff. (extending my hand)
John Doe: Hello Jeff I am John, are you from around here? (shaking my hand firmly)
Me: Yes sir, I have been living in Lexington for 9 years or so. How about you?
Doe: I am from Timbuktu.
Me: Awesome.
Doe: So Jeff what do you do?
Jeff: Well, I am a physical therapist at an orthopedic/sport medicine clinic here in town.
Doe: Where at?
Jeff: The Lexington Clinic over off South Broadway. So, John what do you do?
Doe: I own Google………..so anyway my shoulder hurts every time I…………..
Introduction conversation as of Sept 28th, 2008
Me: Hi, I’m Jeff
Doe: So, Jeff where do you live?
Me: Well that’s hard to answer, you see I move every month………
How you introduce yourself says a lot about who you are and what you spend your time doing. I am no different than most people in fact that I have wrapped a lot of myself in my job, where I live, and where I go to church. My former introduction really says nothing about me as a person: like what is most important to me, or at my core what is it that I truly believe about the purpose of this life. I realize that is pretty personal stuff and everyone may not want that the first time they meet me, but I have been amazed at the conversations that my newer introduction provides. Several people have asked whether the trip was religious, and I get to say it is focused on and because of Jesus. I realize that all individuals may not agree with us who are going on The World Race but in that brief encounter that person would get to see how serious and in love with Jesus we really are. People seem to pay way more attention to what you have to say when you are living your faith out.
A big part of what I have viewed as my identity is changing rapidly. My job of 6 years, my city of 9 years, my Church Family of 9 years has just recently changed and it is starting to set in! I am no longer able to say I am a practicing PT. I am no longer living in Lexington, and I will not be going to Southside every Sunday. I am hopefully letting God take more control of Jeff, so that Jeff becomes less and less Jeff and more and more of Jesus. Galatians 2:20 states I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and give himself for me. Paul knows of what he is talking about and I hope to make the specific choice to live that verse everyday! The Oct 2008 World Race Man Covenant has a line in it that reads, “With my identity flowing from intimacy with Christ” I believe that my identity is rooted in Christ. I just pray I show it.
