Beyond the Label
It seems to me that our culture is presently obsessed with labels. People seem very eager to identify as this or that, or not identify as this or that, or to label and classify others as one thing or another. It’s not a particularly new phenomenon, but perhaps social media lends it a certain heightened fervency.
Yet it seems to me that deep down, most people are less interested in being defined than they are in being known. In fact, defining a person in terms of their chosen identifiers, or labels imposed by others, tends to act as a substitute for actually knowing the person. It creates the false illusion that you already know who they are by virtue of their associations. Once you have a convenient definition, you don’t need to make any further effort.
Now I don’t have any data on this, but it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if the people who are most eager to be identified by their chosen labels are, when it comes down to it, the most lonely.
To that I would say, Jesus knows you by name. He lovingly fashioned you in the womb, he knows your every thought and every struggle, and he cares for you.
If God knows us so intimately and cares so deeply, perhaps we can look past the labels and identifiers and seek to connect with one another on a personal and meaningful level, endeavoring to shine the light of Christ’s love into one another’s soul, loving and accepting one another as unique individuals precious in the sight of God.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.