At birth we are all given a name, perhaps a traditional family name or one having to do with a mother’s flight of fancy. We may come to enjoy that name, or we may never do so, and some of us might even re-name ourselves when we feel free to do so. But there is a deeper naming that takes place when we become aware of ourselves and how we are viewed by others. Actually there is a small commentary that accompanies this, and it proceeds thus: If you do not know who you are, anyone can name you. Startling, isn’t it, and maybe even breathtaking!
Careless with ourselves...
Can we ever have been so casual and careless with ourselves that we are giving ourselves away to other people’s sometimes rude tongues? Do others sometimes feel free to snidely throw out statements like “You are so dumb” or “Can’t you get anything right?” And worse…do we sometimes cringe inwardly and think that maybe they actually know something about us?
Two powerful words of recognition...
Biblically, we’ve learned that God’s name for Itself is I AM… pure, unconditioned, unbounded subject and predicate. We, on the other hand, may use these two powerful words of recognition but condition them with words like “stupid”…”ugly”…”unwanted.” If ringing put-downs like these ever enter our minds, we should be asking, “Do I not know who I am?” “How could I ever think or say such unknowing things about myself?”
Deeper roots and truer callings...
It is certainly our business to know that we have deeper roots and truer callings than anyone else can know, not even those closest to us. And the names that surround us should be those of our own choosing, names like “capable”…”loveable”…and “necessary to life.” How could we, how dare we, consider anything less?
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