Whose Am I?

Practice of the Week
Whose Am I?

adapted from Scott Tayler

'The ancient question, “Who am I?” inevitable leads to a deeper one: “Whose am I?” – because there is not identity outside of relationship. You cannot be a person by yourself. To ask “Whose am I” is to extend the question far beyond the little self-absorbed self, and wonder: Who needs you? Who loves you? To whom are you accountable? To whom do you answer? Whose life is altered by your choices? With whose life, whose lives is your own all bound up, inextricably, in obvious or invisible ways?' (Douglas Steer, Quaker teacher)

Whose are you? What promises, and to whom, are central to who you are? In particular:

• What is your promise to those who have gone before you?
• What is your promise to those who come after you?
• What is your promise to those central to your life right now?
• What is your promise to yourself?

Delve into these question by selecting four photographs -- one to represent each of the above four questions. Select one picture of a person that represents your promises to those that have gone before you, one picture of a person that represents your promises to those who will come after you, one picture of a person that represents your promises to someone central to your life right now, and one picture of yourself. You'll need a hardcopy of these pictures, so print them out if necessary.

Put these four pictures in a place you will see every day for a month. Perhaps tape them to your bathroom mirror or stick them in your wallet. Maybe frame them and place them on your desk or stick them with magnets on your fridge.

Make a conscious effort to reflect on them every day and do at least one thing to further or honor your promise to one of these people.

If you live with a significant other, consider doing this practice as a couple or a family: select photos representing you couple/family's shared promises.

For Journaling

Each day select one of the four promises and reflect on one or more of these questions:
In what ways that you have honored the promise?
In what ways have you broken the promise?
What meaning does the promise have to your life?
How has the content of the promise evolved over time?
What meaning and significance does the promise have in your life?

* * *
For list of all weekly practices: "Practices of the Week Index"