Name Tags II

Last week I read a piece in a past issue of “Weavings” the magazine from Upper Room Ministries, that considers the issue of naming. The author recounts a story about dropping off a child for an event where they were greeted at a welcome desk and given nametags. As the kids were carefully writing their names on the stickers, one mom wrote an addendum name tag for her child so that it read, “Hello, my name is extreme peanut allergies.”

I had to put the piece down for a minute. Thinking about how we name each other and name ourselves brought back a powerful memory and the blessing of having served with someone who truly understood the ethic and impact of naming.

On what was to be my last visit with my friend, Mary, Kerry and I spent time with her together. Kerry and Mary had many, many memories to share about Mary’s time with the kids when their kids were little. They recalled Halloween costumes and decorations and VBS puppets. We all looked at pictures from those events and more.

While I didn’t have the chance to work with them on those fun ministries, I was blessed to work with Mary more closely when those kids were older – nearly out of high school – when I did my best to apprentice her as their youth leader. I thanked Mary for her extraordinary generosity to them through the church and especially for a gift she gave each of them. She gave each a spiritual name, which crystallized their special gift from God. These names were, and I suppose are, wonderful ways for each of those young people to understand their precious gift and how they can effect this world powerfully as they use their gifts. As we discussed the names, she looked at me and reminded me of the name that God gave me – and each of us and she called me, beloved. I am eternally grateful for, and will never forget that moment.

How many times do we forget that our name is “Beloved, Child of God?” If we had to scrawl an addendum name tag underneath the one that said our name, would we carelessly identify ourselves as “disorganized and overwhelmed” or “underpaid” or “incompetent parent” or some other name that shows that our self-esteem is so much less than God’s esteem for us?

We all know how important names are to self-identity. When children call each other names – especially when demeaning names stick with a kid – they can have a painful, lasting and debilitating effect. Yet, we continue to identify ourselves as the least of who we are – and only at the worst moments – rather than as the name that God gave us, beloved.

Naming is truly a God-given privilege for which we need to be careful and discerning stewards. God entrusted Adam – man – to name creation so that we could related best with God’s creation. God calls us all a very special name and one that I hold especially dear right now. Thinking of myself as beloved challenges me to respond as someone who is beloved to God. That is a tall order. It also challenges me to see others as beloved, knowing that they are.
Names are important, thank you Mary for reminding me of the gift of my name, beloved.