Two of my childhood friends and I decided we each needed a trademark. Each time we'd write our names, we'd add our trademarks - on pen pal letters, artwork, and schoolwork. My trademark was a fuzzy caterpillar.I could quickly scribble vertical lines and add two antennae to portray a caterpillar inching across the paper. As I scribbled my caterpillar, it came to life to me. As my trademark, it became part of my identity during a season of my life. Where my name was, a squiggly caterpillar followed.
Fast forward several decades. Serving at a girls' day camp, I needed a "camp name," something for girls to call me, a way for them to identify me. The choice was a no-brainer for me. Butterfly. Over the next several years, I was introduced to many young girls as Butterfly, and I still meet young women who only know me as Butterfly. It is my identity to them.
Throughout my life, I've "trademarked" myself many times through a variety of relationships and situations.
My most important trademark, the only one which is constant and sound, is the stamp of Christ-follower on my soul. I stand firm in my identity in Jesus. Every time you see me or my name, I want you to see God. I want to have an inseparable identity in God. God is God without me. I am not fully Susan without God, because he IS my identity. He created me, guides me, fulfills me. God is my trademark.
I'm thankful my childhood trademark was a fuzzy caterpillar - and I later chose the butterfly as part of my identity. As insignificant as a camp name or childhood symbol might seem, they've been meaningful reminders of God to me.
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Allow God to unveil you. How is unveiling connected to transformation?
How has God transformed you in the past week? Month? Year? Your lifetime?
Be unveiled. Be transformed. Give all glory to God.
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:16-17
