Who Are You?
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2032&version=NIV
https://youtu.be/ynGcnqVbPXA?si=VTVIrUbTxT7ZQpgW
Head/Mind – Helpful Information
Who are you? Who are you really? That is a challenging question, to which each of us have more than one truthful answer to give. As I think about it, I am one person, yet with many overlapping layers that contribute to my identity. I am Linda and Ed’s child. But I am also the father to my kids. But to Stacy, I am a husband. To many of you, I am your pastor.
But I am also a white male, an American, and a Grizzlies fan. But what lies at the heart of my identity? What is the most core piece of that reality?
Jacob was a man who struggled with that very question. His name meant something like “one who comes from behind” and it could have two very different connotations. It could mean one who defends a friend or a brother, similar to when we say, “I got your back.” But it could also mean one who sneaks up on and takes advantage of a weakness, similar to when we call someone a “back-stabber.”
Now, in the mind of God, Jacob was meant to be like that rear-guard. He was supposed to be an honorable man, who watched out for the people he loved. But Jacob was finding it easier and more rewarding to be the backstabber.
He used deception to robbed his brother of his birthright and to dishonor his father’s wishes. And things became so bad at home, that if he had stayed, his brother would have probably killed him.
When God looks at you, he can see the full potential of all that is possible for you become. And what he sees is someone who is brave, honest, pure, noble, resourceful, and kind – at least potentially. But Jacob could not yet see what God could see.
Wilma Rudolph: From Fragility to Triumph
Wilma Rudolph was born in 1940 in Tennessee, the 20th of 22 children in a poor African American family. Her early years were plagued with illness. She contracted polio at a young age, which left her with a paralyzed leg. Doctors told her she might never walk again. Living in a segregated society with limited access to medical care, her prospects seemed bleak.
But Wilma’s mother refused to give up on her. She tirelessly massaged Wilma’s leg and encouraged her to use a leg brace. Despite the doctor’s grim predictions, Wilma was determined to walk. By the time she was 12, she defied the odds and discarded her brace entirely.
Wilma’s recovery was just the beginning. Inspired by her siblings, she started playing basketball and running track. At first, she wasn’t very good. But her coach saw potential and encouraged her to keep going. Slowly, she began to improve. She discovered that running made her feel alive and free, like she could conquer anything.
Even with her progress, Wilma doubted she could ever become great. She was up against not only physical challenges but also the racism and sexism of her era. Yet, with her coach’s support and her family’s encouragement, she kept training.
At 16, Wilma qualified for the 1956 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the relay. But she didn’t stop there. Four years later, at the 1960 Rome Olympics, she made history by becoming the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field during a single Games.
Wilma’s journey from a paralyzed child to an Olympic champion wasn’t just about athletic achievement. It was a story of transforming self-doubt into confidence and courage. She became a global icon, inspiring millions to believe in their own potential, no matter their circumstances.
Her legacy reminds us that even when we feel unworthy or incapable, perseverance and faith can lead us to achieve the extraordinary.
Heart – The Personal Connection
Jacob ran away and ended up living with his uncle Laban. Uncle Laban, it tuns out, was a bigger con-man and swindler than Jacob. And God would use this experience to help Jacob see some things about himself, so that God could begin shaping Jacob into the man he was supposed to be.
In the recovery community, the fourth step is about making a fearless moral inventory of oneself. In other words, you cannot get better until you are honest about and willing to face what is making you sick and broken.
When I was in 6th or 7th grade, my father helped a young man walk away from his addiction to cocaine. The young man loved my aunt and she would have nothing to do with him, so long as he was abusing cocaine. He made a decision to do something about it, but knew that he could not do it alone.
My dad made a pact with this young man and he spent most of his waking hours, when he was not at work, going through detox at our house. Now, I do not recommend this method, as detoxing can be medically dangerous; but, we were all poor people and we did not have the resources that others had access to.
For a time, this young man basically turned himself over to my dad, not being able to trust himself to stay with the torturous path of getting over his addiction to cocaine. I remember some nights he and my father would be in the back yard for hours, as this young man vomited, cried, writhed in agony, and punched the telephone pole in our back yard as a way of working through the physical and emotional symptoms of withdrawal. The process was a nightmare. But the purpose was not just about facing what he had become, but about reaching for what he could still be.
The same was true for Jacob. By living with Uncle Laban, Jacob did a lot of the work necessary for becoming the man God knew he could be. But living with Laban was only half of the program. Eventually, it was time for Jacob to come home, and to face the problems he had created, including a brother, who, for all Jacob knew, was still angry.
On the night Jacob was to meet up with his brother, Jacob had a still more important meeting to keep, with God. It is a foolish thing to think that having God in one’s life will make everything easy, all decisions clear and simple, and leave one without any hard work to do.
The reality is that God is not just the answers to all your questions. He is the ultimate question. If religion is a crutch for the week, it must also be noted that it is a thousand foot crutch. And, mysterious and hard as this may be to understand, for some of us, there is a sense in which we have to be broken in order to be made whole.
If you have lived with an abusive parent, that language may be incredibly hard to hear. But, it is necessary to understand if you intend to be truly whole. I can compare it to the experiences some of us have had of having a coach, or teacher, or parent, or drill instructor who loved us too much to leave us ignorant, clumsy, or incompetent. They were tough on us, but only for the sake of helping us achieve something greater than we could have imagined.
The Story of Principal Linda Cliatt-Wayman
Linda Cliatt-Wayman, an educator from Philadelphia, is renowned for transforming one of the most underperforming and troubled inner-city schools in the U.S. Her story is a remarkable example of leadership, compassion, and an unwavering belief in the potential of every student.
The Challenge: Strawberry Mansion High School
In 2013, Linda Cliatt-Wayman was appointed principal of Strawberry Mansion High School, a school notorious for its violence, poverty, and academic struggles. Located in one of Philadelphia’s toughest neighborhoods, the school had been labeled one of the most dangerous in the country. Metal detectors at the entrance, frequent fights, and a significant dropout rate painted a bleak picture. Many had given up hope that the school could ever improve.
Before taking the role, Wayman had already gained experience turning around two other struggling schools. But Strawberry Mansion posed her greatest challenge yet. She saw a school where students faced immense barriers—hunger, homelessness, and exposure to crime—yet longed for hope and opportunity.
Her Motto: “If Nobody Else Will, Then Why Not Me?”
On her first day, Wayman faced skepticism from both students and staff. Teachers were demoralized, resources were scarce, and students felt abandoned. But she refused to accept the status quo. She greeted students each morning, enforcing discipline with a firm but caring demeanor. She established three guiding principles:
- If you’re going to lead, LEAD.
- So what, now what? (A reminder to address challenges instead of lamenting them.)
- If nobody else will, then why not me?
Rebuilding the School
Wayman implemented drastic changes. She enforced strict discipline to create a safe learning environment and ensured teachers had the support they needed. She personally reached out to students who skipped school, visiting their homes if necessary, to emphasize her belief in their potential.
She also prioritized addressing students’ emotional and physical needs. Recognizing that many of them faced food insecurity, she partnered with organizations to provide meals and resources. Wayman focused on offering hope, emphasizing that students could rise above their circumstances if given the tools and encouragement.
The Turnaround
Wayman’s approach began to yield results. Violence in the school decreased significantly, and students started attending classes regularly. They began to feel valued and believed in for the first time. The academic performance of the school began to improve as students were held to higher expectations and given consistent support.
Despite setbacks—such as limited funding and continued community struggles—Wayman’s determination inspired her staff and students to persevere. Her ability to show students that they were loved and capable sparked a shift in the school’s culture.
A Lasting Legacy
Wayman’s leadership at Strawberry Mansion earned national attention. Her story was featured in a segment on ABC World News Tonight, highlighting the resilience of the school and its principal. She continued to advocate for inner-city education and inspired educators nationwide to tackle difficult challenges with hope and grit.
One of her most memorable quotes reflects her commitment to her students:
“They are not bad kids. They are just kids who need people to believe in them.”
Key Lessons
Linda Cliatt-Wayman’s journey shows that transformation is possible even in the most dire circumstances. Her belief in the potential of every student, coupled with her fearless leadership, proved that education could be a beacon of hope in communities that others had written off.
But friends, Sometimes, after the healing, the scars still show.
Jacob left his encounter with God as a better man. His name was Jacob, but no longer did it mean a scoundrel. From that moment on, Jacob would walk a straight line, even if he did so with a limp. The limp would remind him of just how far he had come, by God’s grace.
There was a man who had a rebellious son. The son loved to disobey and break his father’s heart. Nothing the father did curbed the boys enthusiasm for bad behavior. So, one day the father erected a fence post in the middle of the front yard. Curious, his son asked what it was for. The father said, “Every time you sin and break the rules, I will nail a nail to the post.” This delighted the boy. His father had created a monument to the son’s bad behavior. For quite a while, the boy’s behavior got even worse, and the son would cheer and celebrate every time his father added another nail to the post.
But one day the reality struck the boy that this post represented his own heart and life. He went out to the post, fell before it and began to weep. When his father saw this display, he met his son at the fence post. The boy confessed that he had been wrong and vowed to be a better son. He asked his father, “Can you ever forgive me?” His father said, “This is my answer,” as he used a hammer to begin removing the nails. When they were all removed, the son ran his hand up and down the scarred wood. He then said, “Father, the nails are gone, but the holes remain.”
We started this sermon by asking the question: Who are you? Who am I? The best answer to give to this question is that you are who God says you are. I am who God says I am. And, in our baptism, God says, you are my beloved child.
“Nothing is more practical than finding God – than falling in love in a quite absolute and final way. What are you in love with? What seizes your imagination will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love. Stand in love with God and it will decide everything.”
Songs:
https://youtu.be/p72pfKoY6JQ?si=-yG9QCUIgj4l_MvF