Vain Jangling
I identify as someone or something I neither am nor can be.
Today’s society is very much concerned with self-identity.
Who am I? What do I aspire to be? How do others see me?
There is discussion about finding oneself, seeking self awareness, being true to oneself. Often these can be discovered and lived out by true self examination, self discipline, and self sacrifice to pursue dreams and hoped for accomplishments.
However, there is a limit to the thought:
“You can be whatever you want to be when you grow up.”
Sometimes the term identify is used to look outside of oneself. One may try to identify with the person they are trying to minister to. One might try to identify with the victim or suspect in a case. This is not to become that person, but rather is meant to try to understand another person or situation. A “put yourself in their shoes” mentality, not in actuality.
Sometimes the term identify can be used by actors and actresses. They will spend time and energy studying a script and the who or what they are to portray. Sometimes the character is real, other times they may be fictional, but in either case, neither the actor nor actress ever truly become the other person, place, or thing. They are merely acting like.
However, today, some wish to identify as—not to understand or to play the part, but rather to become—what they neither are nor can be. Procedures, no matter how minute or extensive, may change the outward appearance, but no amount of medication, surgery, or rhetoric can make someone what they are not. It is merely vain jangling to appease a soul with such unbiblical (and unscientific) ideals, when it is in direct conflict with truth. Especially, when limits are still set—for who can identify as who or what—in this alternate reality.
Vain Janglings 