When I first wrote this song 20 years ago, it was an imagined musical take on the question Jesus poses to Peter in Matthew 16 when he asks, “Who do you say that I am?” I wondered what it would have been like to witness firsthand the life and death of Jesus? If I was physically present in that moment in time, what would I have thought, said, or done in response?  I imagined Jesus asking me the same question, “Who am I to you?”

Now, 20 years later, a new interpretation emerges via my dear partner, Jordan, who after listening to this song for the first time recently, heard something different. He suggested this song could also be heard as my/our question posed to the Divine, to the universe, to all those we come in contact with. A primal question of belonging - “Who am I to you?”

The answer to that question can transform the way we see ourselves and each other, especially those “others” we don’t understand or who make us uncomfortable, who we haven’t had exposure or proximity to, who it’s easier to ignore or vilify than try to empathize with.

Mother Theresa said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

The grieving Palestinian mother says, “Who am I to you?”

The terrified transgender person says, “Who am I to you?”

The refugee fleeing death threats and violence in their home country says, “Who am I to you?”

The disruptive bully in class says, “Who am I to you?”

The noncompliant patient says, “Who am I to you?”

We each need to ask the question, “Who am I to you?”

For those of us who strive to follow the way of Jesus, we are uniquely called to welcome the stranger, to care for the widow and orphan, for those especially vulnerable in our society and communities. We are called to Love. Everyone. Always. No exceptions.

“Who am I to you?”

You are Divinely Beloved.

We belong to each other.

May we act like it, and believe it.