I have a "what have I learned" assignment today thanks to a wonderful and relatively new friend's inivtation to speak to a group of peers.

It behooves me to remove my "expert hat" and be a fellow traveler.

That hat never fit too well anyway.

In fact, I have never really liked wearing hats much. I find them functionally necessary at times as tools, identifiers, shades from the sun, or … well … that is all I can really think of.

Hats – I have so many, role-related identifiers.

Whenever I introduce myself I have to do a reality check. What hat am I wearing today? What is the "so what" of the crowd that is my ticket in the door? Why was I invited? What are the needs of the people that I have been sent to serve?

I am not switching between one authentic self to another; I am just turning the side of me that is relevant to the side of the crowd that cares.

And yet, everything relates, integrates, and colors everything else. I am a pastor, preacher, teacher, writer, blogger, community manager, non-profit (public benefit organization) board member, executive director, coach, toastmaster, encourager, singer, chaplain, "barrista" (now and loving it at "our place"), entrepreneur, husband, son, brother, father, GRANDPA (!), disciple of Jesus, human being, friend …..

See, I did not, could not list them in order. The order changes with the setting.

If you ask me what I have learned I have to ask what about! And I have to ask who is asking and what they need/want to know.  What have I learned in what context? Under what hat? As a what? How will it help?

See 1 Cornithians 9:19-23 and ask, "What is the big banner? What is the big hat?"

It is not about having a changing persona; it is about function. All functions serve a greater purpose. I only become all things to all people for the benefit of others. I do that for the sake of a message of good news which is greater than anything that I am. As a result, I get to share in the benefitss … like Joseph who, for all of his gifts, designations, and complexities, a servant who lived out his life for the benefit of a people not his own in a land not his own … and came to share in the benefits of life giving service he had offered.

Fellow traveler is a pretty good hat.

What have I learned?

I have learned that I have a lot to learn.