Edith Nordloh

Galatians 1:1-5 (NRSV)
1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—2 and all the brothers and sisters with me, to the churches in Galatia: 3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Reflection:

Do you know who you are? Do you know whose you are?

I am Edith Carol Dahlberg Nordloh. I am named for my maternal grandmother and my father’s cousin as well as a passel of 19th century Swedish and German immigrants. My name connects me to my home and family and a history of love and mess and dysfunction and humor and really good food that are foundational to who I am. As I have grown, my name has changed based on the context: I have been Edie (childhood nickname), Miss Dahlberg (as a beginning teacher), Mrs. Nordloh, Miss Edith (to the kid’s friends), and even Bert (to my sister – It’s a long story).  Each of these monikers lets me know where I am and what the expectations of the setting include, but they all add up to me, and, having grown into my little-old-lady name, I find joy in introducing myself to new people and offering my hand in greeting.

Paul takes a moment to identify himself as he greets the Galatians. He includes his name, but he also includes so much more. He claims his work as an apostle. He identifies his source in being sent by Jesus. He proclaims his redemption from sin, his family among believers, and his audience, all before he gets to the end of his first sentence. Then, he goes on to bless the community to which he is writing and articulate his foundational beliefs in sentence two.  He packs a lot into that greeting! As a former English teacher, I have to admire the density and specificity of his language.

I often introduce myself as Sam or Ben’s mother, Pete’s wife, or the Educational Diagnostician (my role at work), but fundamentally, like Paul and the Galatians, I am a child of God and you are too, redeemed by Christ and sent into the world to be a blessing. The grace and peace to which Paul refers are mine and, when I am my best self, I hope that grace and peace infuse my interactions with others. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul is gearing up for some tough messages, but he still starts with love. He knows who he is, whose he is, and he reminds the people of the church of Galatia whose they are too, and what they have in Christ Jesus. May each of us recall our identities in Christ as we move and work and grow in the world. May we share the grace and peace that springs from our faith with all of our human family, so that they too may come to know whose they are. 

Prayer:
Father God, as I move through your creation and among your children, may I remember who I am and whose I am. Grant that I may share your grace and peace with others in witness of your goodness. Amen.