The Lost Identity

Cypher
“I don't want to remember nothing. Nothing. You understand? And I want to be rich. You know, someone important. Like an actor.”

Agent Smith
“Whatever you want, Mr. Reagan.”

The Matrix

Our society paints certain things (money, sex, power, etc.) as important and encourages us to pursue after them. Some of us find ourselves pursuing these things and doing so with a hope to fit in and look good before others.

In doing this, we may end up focusing more on what others think and in the process lose sight of what matters most and brings true joy. Things like our relationship with God, developing meaningful relationships with people, quality time with our family, acts of charity, etc.

Frederick Buechner describes the result of this tragic process of trying to please others and live up to the ideals of society: “Our original shimmering self gets buried so deep we hardly live out of it at all… rather, we learn to live out of all the other selves which we are constantly putting on and taking off like coats and hats against the world’s weather.”1

Because our peers, family, and society lure us to be a certain way we may find ourselves putting on masks to please different types of people. The danger is that we may begin to identify with what others think of us and forget who we really are and what we really want. The result is that many times our soul is left desiring more; and further away from the One who can restore us and make us whole.

We must break away from the desire to please others and discover what we really want; a connection with a God who helps us find our identity in him. Once we know this truth we do well to move closer to making
it a reality. By identifying our deep need and what can satisfy us we allow ourselves to move toward our purpose; which provides the motivation to live out the truth we have come to know.

“On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.’” – John 7:37-38 (NIV)

Excerpt taken from Matrix Reflections: Choosing between reality and illusion.