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What Hat Are You
Wearing?

As we figure out what gifts we have to share in the world, we may need to try on several different hats before we discover the one that fits us well. We may even discover more than one hat that fits, and that’s good too. Our gifts can be shared through a variety of roles. I think it comes down to a matter of identity – who we are, our relationships with others, and
how we show up in the world. Even though how the world sees us will change throughout our lives, perhaps the essentials at the core of our identity do not.

We have entered the Season after Epiphany and this week’s gospel story is focused on Jesus discovering his identity as God’s beloved. Luke’s account of the Baptism of Jesus invites us to pay attention to a couple of things that show us who Jesus is in relation to his community and in relation to God. First, he lines up with all the other people to be baptized by John. No special treatment. He is with the people. They all came from the surrounding area, wanting to make some changes by letting go of the brokenness in their lives, and imagining the possibilities of what could be.


The second thing we pay attention to in this reading, is the mention of Jesus praying right after he was baptized. This is a detail that gives us a hint about his identity and his relationship with God. This is a key story that marks the end of John’s ministry, and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. In this moment, Jesus begins to understand who and whose he is, and how he will show up in the world.

I wonder if how we act and behave is different according to what hat we are wearing. As we think of our own identity, perhaps we should not only pay attention to our physical presence, but also to our sacred presence. I wonder if it would make a difference in how we show up, if first and foremost, our identity is grounded in the sacredness of all things. We are all beloved, and this is how we should show up, no matter what hat we are wearing.
Peace and joy,
Nancy