In our congregation we are going through a process of rethinking who we are.  We are writing a new mission statement.  I hope that it will be a time to rethink what it means to be Christ to the world.

All of us as individuals and stewards ought to have our own mission statement.  We ought to know who we are in this world and what we are called here to do.  Then stewardship becomes bringing all the resources that you have to bear on doing what you are called to do.

Once my former bishop told me that I had the heart of an urban pastor because, "I saw something where there was nothing and worked to make it happen."  My response was, "Shouldn't every pastor?" 

But the question is really, "Shouldn't every Christian see what God intended in this world even when it is not yet much in evidence and then work to make it happen?"

Begin by re-examining who you are.  Maybe look at your birth certificate, but more likely your baptismal certificate.  Mine is an old, (of course) form that had the baptismal service printed right in it. 

What did you affirm at your confirmation?  Who really are you and what have you been created into this world to accomplish?  If you haven't thought about that lately then perhaps this Lent is a good time.

My mission statement is short.  I don't accomplish it every day.  I should reaffirm it even more often.  I stumbled on it by accident when I was helping another congregation to think about who they were.  Mine simply says, "Sharing Christ's love."  That includes good news for me because I get a share in it too.  And it also gives me a direction that is outside myself.

It also tells  me where to put my time and my resources.

Your statement might be more specific.  It might be more family or community focused but certainly is other focused.  Being Christ propels us outside ourselves.  Being stewards puts us into a flow from God through us to the world.

Lord,  hold us as we discover who we are and why we are here.  It may take us our whole lives, but we thank you that you never weary of holding us.  Amen