Identity Crisis!

A current issue in our Web 2.0 world today is identity theft - obviously a serious problem and one which I hope none of you have experienced. I personally take extra precautions on my laptop and desktop to guard against the various trojans and viruses that tend invade computers.

But, regarding identity theft, aren't there some "identities" out there that frankly aren't worth stealing? Poor joke, I realize, but we all know people that never seemed to grasp a clear understanding of their worth - and the origin of that confusion seemed to have started in childhood and just worsened over the years. In fact, we all know people that frankly never grew up.

I never had kids, unfortunately. But, seems to me that one of the most invaluable gifts we could give our children is a solid sense of belonging, a foundational and bullet-proof belief that at the end of the day, enabled them to absolutely know that they "belong." They'd always remember and act on the fact that they are forever a member of the Smith, Jones (or your) family and they'd always know their place in life. Seriously, help me out with this concept: wouldn't an undying understanding of one's identity be the one thing that could get a person through the toughest decisions and lowest times in life? Wouldn't that simple truth be the one free thing that we could all give our children that would last forever? (I'll skip the theological implications, but suffice it to say that I know the discussion goes well beyond us and points to Someone much greater. I'll leave it at that for now).

So, have we done that? I assume that most of your kids are grown now - but its not too late to spend some time having this level of discussion. This is such a simple idea, but it is mind-blowing in it its profoundness! There's no time like the present to talk it up - especially if your kids are in college (the time when all things formerly sacred and sane inexplicably suddenly come under intense scrutiny).

So, why bring this up now? And, why from me? I've got no children, remember? I guess I'm in one of those weird, reflective moods. I think back on decisions that I've made over the years since (and during) our time together at RHS. And I realize now that many of those decisions - and the outcomes - were a direct result of who I did (or didn't) think that I was. My sense of identity (or lack thereof) made the difference. Obviously, during a few of those times, I must've experienced amnesia.

By the way, no one and nothing can ever really "steal your identity"...unless YOU allow it.

Cheers,

Ken