What's in a name....

 

My youngest nephew and his fiancé are expecting their first child in early May --- there is excitement all around!  

My nephew is a ginormous fan of all things "Lord of the Rings." He's read the books and even the initial volume that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote that sets the stage. He's watched all the movies multiple times and can talk for hours on the finer points of the shire; he has asked me to get the baby a blanket that's made from the wool of the New Zealand sheep which made the cloak worn by the Great Wizard. I kid you not. He sent me the link. I'm doing it.

When talking about what names are being considered for his son, the nephew remains adamant that he wants something that's unique, different, original. The family joke was knowing that consideration mixed with his deep fascination with the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, there was an above average possibility that the child could be named Gandalf....I mean he's going to be swaddled in the blanket made from the wool of the New Zealand sheep that made the wizard's cloak.

There is a story behind each name. When officiating a baptism, I always enjoyed having the parents answer the question, "What name is given to this child?"  

And there it is....the name is given and the name is received, there is a power in both.   

There is decency and respect and affording dignity by calling another by the name one wants to be known and referred. 

What's in a name?  Story. Identity. Lineage. Connection. Self awareness. 

Gram

 

I participated in a Women's Retreat where the opening question was, "What's your favorite flower?"   Seriously.  I almost pretended I had a phone call that I just had to take and left. My favorite flower??!!?!? Why not who's my favorite Pittsburgh Pirate? (Roberto Clemente). 

Being honest there's not a lot of flowers I could readily name....tulip, rose, dandelion...and not one of those would be my favorite.  

As the women gathered in the circle answered with long, and yes "flowery" answers citing why that particular flower, I confess, I had nothing. I was going to mention my birth month flower, the carnation, and then feign a phone emergency. 

Then, I remembered my Gram.

As a family we were blessed enough to have our Gram live with us. Around our house there were patches and patches of wild violets or what we called "Johnny Jump-Ups," they were all over, patches and patches of purple.  As a kid I wold pick a handful and proudly bring them to my Gram, who would be overly grateful as if I had just come back from the tropics with some rare orchid. Gram would thank me, preen about how lovely were the "Johnny Jump-ups" and then promptly place the little batch of wild violets, that were all my tiny hands could carry, into a small glass filled with water and place them in the center of the family table...a very serious place of honor.  

It's not only on International Women's Day that I think of my Gram. Like her youngest child, my mother, Gram was no frills, no fuss, steady, strong without telling you she was, steady, constant and lived a deep river faith.

Whenever I see patches of "Johnny Jump-Ups," I think of my Gram and how I would present her with these most common of flowers that were literally all over the property.  

The thing about "Johnny Jump-Ups" is exactly that, they are everywhere and they are reliable and constant and keep showing up season after season.....year after year....just like my Gram and all the strong and amazing women I have been and am blessed to know.

Happy International Women's Day.

A brief reflection on John 3.1-17

 

The key chapter in the centuries old and-it-really-works Rule of Benedict is Chapter 7 on Humility, this virtue is needed to build strong community.

At its core and literally from its root, humility is authenticity, knowing who you are soars and sours, wows and what was that??!?!, success and stumbles...the all of you....when one knows self and is comfortable with self than one is more understanding and gracious to another.

A part of me feels for Nicodemus, so afraid and uncertain he has to meet Jesus at night time lest he be caught by his colleagues, the Pharisees, who like to put on the show and glow instead of the real and heal.

I've had my encounters with the type such as when someone found out I was in seminary and asked if I knew Jesus (!) I said, is he the the guy in the picture above your mantel?!!?? 

Or, after having been interviewed and trained and hired by the WPA-UMC Conference to be a Program Staff Camp Counselor being assigned to the One Way Camp and prior to the start of the week, being called to meet and be interviewed by the camp dean to be certain "I measured up." 

I confess, I'm not a big fan of putting-on-airs and arrogance. Perhaps my cussing, bluejeans wearing, sports referencing, talk too loudly and joke too often turns some folks off.  Oh well.

At least I'm authentic.

My favorite church folks are the ones who come as they are and in so doing create a welcoming spirit for everyone. 

When a congregation really opens and includes and has that going on you build real and, yes, beloved community.

To quote the film CHOCOLAT, "Why do we choose to measure our goodness as to what we give up and who we exclude? Why? When we should measure our goodness by what we do and who we include. Christ is kindness, grace, life, love."

The key point is we don't have to earn God's love and grace....we already are loved and graced.  

Believe it. Live it. Let others in on the fact that just as they are they are God's Delight.....Blessed be;