“ON THE IMPORTANCE OF NAMES”
I have discovered a wonderful website called A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg. In addition to my Scripture reading, prayers, and addiction recovery activities, it is a very important part of how I begin my day. (Anu Garg would probably be amazed to find that a Christian finds his writings to be extremely helpful, but at this Christian does! Hey! Truth is truth wherever you find it.)
As an introduction to today’s word (and, indeed as an introduction to this week’s words), Garg tells a wonderful story about a flight attendant he encountered. Her name was “Frankly.” No story behind the name; her father just wanted to name her that.
Names are important. If we have children, it is important what we name them. In the Bible—particularly in the Old Testament—the names given to children often foreshadow their characters. However, sometimes Old Testament characters are given really crappy names. For example, the name “Caleb” apparently means “dog.” The name “Jabez” seems to be related to the Hebrew word for pain.
Now, I got teased on the playground a lot anyway. I’m so grateful that my mom and dad didn’t name me “Dog” or “Pain.”
However, Caleb was a bold, risk-taker, and Pain wasn’t. I mean he wasn’t pain. Some people live up to or down to their names, while others live way beyond their names.
What we call ourselves and one another matters. I have a tendency to call myself very unflattering names. Sometimes, I extend the same courtesy to others. Such name-calling is not helpful. In fact, it is harmful.
A good friend of mine doesn’t like it when I call myself an addict. He would like me to say instead, “I have an addiction.” He may well have a point.
Perhaps I could experiment with calling myself and others some good names, some hopeful names. I am not fond of some politicians, but what if I stopped calling them nasty names? They may or may not change, but I would change, and change for the better. The names we give other people don’t just affect them. They also help to form us.
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