Who
Am I?
by
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Who
am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever
I am, Thou knowest, 0 God, I am Thine!
Bonhoeffer was a German theologian
who was killed in a Nazi death camp the day before it was liberated. Some believe in faith that Bonhoeffer was “liberated”
when he was killed. Throughout his
imprisonment, his faith grew through periods of doubt which came through savage
experiences. Time and again, he climbed
out of the pit of despair within himself and affirmed his faith.
What is there in this one extreme experience
that speaks to us? For the Jew, the
covenant holds the believer in the palm of Yahweh’s hand. For the Christian, Baptism marks the believer
as Christ’s own forever. Theologians
from every faith seem to have this one belief in common. Adversity can grow our faith. It opens the believer to God’s grace. The extremity of human spirit is the
opportunity for divine spirit.
The Baptismal Shell
By the way, I am celebrating the anniversary of my baptism today. What date do you use for your birth-day?
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