I’m now about a month away from my due date for this next child, and one thing we’ve been starting to think about is a name for this little girl. Holden and I have this system. First I go through a book of names and underline the ones I like. Then a week or so later, I go through it again and circle the ones I still like. I write those down in a big list. Then every few days, I look through the list and cross out ones that no longer work for me. I get the list down to 20 or so names, with a handful of real favorites starred, and then pass it on to Holden.
With Sophia that process worked pretty well. I had narrowed down the list, picked Sophia and Isabella as my two favorites, knew I wanted Patricia as a middle name after my mom. And Holden liked the name Sophia so we were set. With Dylan, we used the same system, but it didn’t work quite as well. When I handed over my list of 20ish names to Holden he wasn’t wild about any of them. Even after the poor boy was born, we were still trying to decide. Holden started looking through golfing magazines for ideas, which was not a good sign. Finally we ended up with Dylan, which had been on my list of 20 or so, but I don’t think had been one of the starred names. And no middle name. By then we were burned out and happy to have gotten that far.
And now, here we are again, in the midst of this process again. Although this time we have some help. Dylan and Sophie decided to add their own lists alongside mine. Dylan has things like Poo Poo Pellet, Blueberry, Pig Girl, and Cupcake. Sophie’s choices are more reasonable, with several based on books she likes – Olivia, Emma, Penelope.
But there are so many factors that go into naming that the whole process becomes very daunting. There are certain names that just rub you the wrong way. Maybe because you used to know someone with that name. Maybe because you don’t like the hard consonant sound, who knows. Some I’m attracted to because of some connection. Davita because I loved the book Davita’s Harp. Maya because Maya Angelou taught at my college and inspired me. Helena because my grandmother’s name was Helen. I like funky, unusual names. Names that might set this little girl apart. I grew up as an Elizabeth among a multitude of other Elizabeths. And so I’m careful to go through the list of the most frequently used names for the past couple years so as to avoid them. Holden, on the other hand, wants something simple. He experienced growing up with two hard names – he never met another Holden in his life until he came to St. Aidan’s and met the Madisons. And Hoofnagle – need I say more? Plus our kids have this hyphenated last name that adds some extra difficulty. The first name can’t be too long or too complicated or too unrecognizable. It has to flow as nicely as possible. I love the name Della, but you just can’t name your daughter Della when her last name begins with Rees. Then there are the nicknames to avoid. You don’t want the name to rhyme with a curse word, or be too easy to turn into something derogatory. I also like looking at the meaning of the name. Sophia is another name for the Holy Spirit in the Orthodox Church. Elizabeth means Beloved of God.
Choosing a name for a child seems like such a big responsibility. This is the name that will follow them around forever. There are so many possibilities for this unknown child and you don’t want to limit any of them. Does this name sound like it could be a sweet baby, a little girl running around, will it fit her as she grows up, is it a name to grow old with? Could it be a respectable name for a businessperson/doctor/ teacher/astronaut…? Is it a friendly name, like it could be someone you’d want to meet for coffee and share your hopes and dreams with?
In our Old Testament reading from Isaiah this morning, we hear God renaming the people. The people have been liberated from captivity, and returned from exile. But all is still not right. Their identity has been stripped by war and hardship. Jerusalem is still in shambles, a ruined city. The people have broken dreams and crumbling faith. They are wondering if God is indifferent to their plight, whether God has forgotten all the promises made while they were in exile.
And so in this passage, the prophet Isaiah starts by making a lament to God. It is his protest, really. Demanding that God act to fulfill all of those promises and vindicate the people. “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch!”
And then the prophet moves on to words of hope and new beginnings. “The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.”
It isn’t at all unusual in the Bible to receive a new name, and it is always significant. Take Abram and Sarai who were old and childless before God made an everlasting covenant with them, promising that their descendents would be too numerous to count. And God renamed the pair Abraham (meaning ancestor of a multitude) and Sarah (meaning princess) as they became the Father and Mother of Nations. With their new names came an entirely new future.
And then there is Jacob (which meant heel grabber), the second twin who was always fighting to come out ahead of his brother Esau. After wrestling with an angel, he was renamed Israel (the one who strives with God). And this is his new beginning. As Jacob, he was a rogue and a scoundrel, cheating his brother, lying to his father, always on the brink of disaster. Now, as Israel, he is able to return home and be reunited with his family, sure of his covenant with God.
We can’t forget Jesus’ disciple Simon, who is often bungling and denying Jesus, but whom Jesus renames Peter (which means rock) after he identifies Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. And indeed, Peter goes on to be a rock of the new church after Jesus’ death. With his new name came incredible privilege and responsibility.
And of course there is Saul, the fervent persecutor of Christians who changes his name to Paul after he has his blinding revelation on the road to Damascus. He sheds his old identity along with his old name and becomes a leader and protector of the early church.
There is good and important news in all of these name changes. They represent a change in character or mission and, more importantly a change in relationship with God. The God-given essence of the person is revealed in the name change and their life takes on a whole new direction. When God names them, God also claims them, and opens incredible new possibilities for them.
A change in name was a powerful thing in biblical times, and it’s true now as well. Whether it is spouses taking on each other’s names or a child whose name changes upon adoption, a new name is more than just a word that identifies someone – it can be a statement of hope and relationship and promise.
It is the same in our reading from Isaiah. Although Israel at that moment considers herself to be abandoned and despised by God, she is given a new name which promises joy and union. Israel is promised that she “shall no more be termed Forsaken.” Instead, she “shall be called My Delight Is in Her.” And the land “shall no more be termed Desolate,” but instead will be called “Married.” The marriage imagery is a promise of restoration, a reminder of God’s steadfast and ardent love for the people, an assurance of the continuation of God’s promised covenant. God has turned toward the people with the delight and joy of a bridegroom for his bride.
Last week and this week we’ve had the great joy of getting to baptize little people. First the person to be baptized is presented by their family and sponsors by name. Very soon we’ll hear these folks up fromt say: “I present Perrin to receive the sacrament of baptism.” And then John will name her again as she is baptized: “Perrin,” he will say, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Perrin will still be Perrin after the water and the oil. But she will also have a new name – Christian. She will have an expanded family, The Church. And she will have a new identity that represents her calling and God’s hopes and dreams for her. And each of us have our own God-given new identities as well. In our baptism, each of us is renamed as a child of God with our own promise of love and a future in Jesus.
And it isn’t just a one-time occurrence. None of us, including Perrin here, fit our new identities right away. Not any more than this baby of mine will fit her name right away; or Abraham or Sarah or Jacob or Peter or Paul or the people of Israel, for that matter. All of us are still growing into our name “Christian”, our identities as members of this great family of people striving to live up to the responsibilities we take on in our baptismal covenant. Thankfully, we grow into our new identity, knowing that the name we heard God giving Israel applies to us as well: God’s Delight Is in Us too. Thanks be to God!
With Sophia that process worked pretty well. I had narrowed down the list, picked Sophia and Isabella as my two favorites, knew I wanted Patricia as a middle name after my mom. And Holden liked the name Sophia so we were set. With Dylan, we used the same system, but it didn’t work quite as well. When I handed over my list of 20ish names to Holden he wasn’t wild about any of them. Even after the poor boy was born, we were still trying to decide. Holden started looking through golfing magazines for ideas, which was not a good sign. Finally we ended up with Dylan, which had been on my list of 20 or so, but I don’t think had been one of the starred names. And no middle name. By then we were burned out and happy to have gotten that far.
And now, here we are again, in the midst of this process again. Although this time we have some help. Dylan and Sophie decided to add their own lists alongside mine. Dylan has things like Poo Poo Pellet, Blueberry, Pig Girl, and Cupcake. Sophie’s choices are more reasonable, with several based on books she likes – Olivia, Emma, Penelope.
But there are so many factors that go into naming that the whole process becomes very daunting. There are certain names that just rub you the wrong way. Maybe because you used to know someone with that name. Maybe because you don’t like the hard consonant sound, who knows. Some I’m attracted to because of some connection. Davita because I loved the book Davita’s Harp. Maya because Maya Angelou taught at my college and inspired me. Helena because my grandmother’s name was Helen. I like funky, unusual names. Names that might set this little girl apart. I grew up as an Elizabeth among a multitude of other Elizabeths. And so I’m careful to go through the list of the most frequently used names for the past couple years so as to avoid them. Holden, on the other hand, wants something simple. He experienced growing up with two hard names – he never met another Holden in his life until he came to St. Aidan’s and met the Madisons. And Hoofnagle – need I say more? Plus our kids have this hyphenated last name that adds some extra difficulty. The first name can’t be too long or too complicated or too unrecognizable. It has to flow as nicely as possible. I love the name Della, but you just can’t name your daughter Della when her last name begins with Rees. Then there are the nicknames to avoid. You don’t want the name to rhyme with a curse word, or be too easy to turn into something derogatory. I also like looking at the meaning of the name. Sophia is another name for the Holy Spirit in the Orthodox Church. Elizabeth means Beloved of God.
Choosing a name for a child seems like such a big responsibility. This is the name that will follow them around forever. There are so many possibilities for this unknown child and you don’t want to limit any of them. Does this name sound like it could be a sweet baby, a little girl running around, will it fit her as she grows up, is it a name to grow old with? Could it be a respectable name for a businessperson/doctor/ teacher/astronaut…? Is it a friendly name, like it could be someone you’d want to meet for coffee and share your hopes and dreams with?
In our Old Testament reading from Isaiah this morning, we hear God renaming the people. The people have been liberated from captivity, and returned from exile. But all is still not right. Their identity has been stripped by war and hardship. Jerusalem is still in shambles, a ruined city. The people have broken dreams and crumbling faith. They are wondering if God is indifferent to their plight, whether God has forgotten all the promises made while they were in exile.
And so in this passage, the prophet Isaiah starts by making a lament to God. It is his protest, really. Demanding that God act to fulfill all of those promises and vindicate the people. “For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch!”
And then the prophet moves on to words of hope and new beginnings. “The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.”
It isn’t at all unusual in the Bible to receive a new name, and it is always significant. Take Abram and Sarai who were old and childless before God made an everlasting covenant with them, promising that their descendents would be too numerous to count. And God renamed the pair Abraham (meaning ancestor of a multitude) and Sarah (meaning princess) as they became the Father and Mother of Nations. With their new names came an entirely new future.
And then there is Jacob (which meant heel grabber), the second twin who was always fighting to come out ahead of his brother Esau. After wrestling with an angel, he was renamed Israel (the one who strives with God). And this is his new beginning. As Jacob, he was a rogue and a scoundrel, cheating his brother, lying to his father, always on the brink of disaster. Now, as Israel, he is able to return home and be reunited with his family, sure of his covenant with God.
We can’t forget Jesus’ disciple Simon, who is often bungling and denying Jesus, but whom Jesus renames Peter (which means rock) after he identifies Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. And indeed, Peter goes on to be a rock of the new church after Jesus’ death. With his new name came incredible privilege and responsibility.
And of course there is Saul, the fervent persecutor of Christians who changes his name to Paul after he has his blinding revelation on the road to Damascus. He sheds his old identity along with his old name and becomes a leader and protector of the early church.
There is good and important news in all of these name changes. They represent a change in character or mission and, more importantly a change in relationship with God. The God-given essence of the person is revealed in the name change and their life takes on a whole new direction. When God names them, God also claims them, and opens incredible new possibilities for them.
A change in name was a powerful thing in biblical times, and it’s true now as well. Whether it is spouses taking on each other’s names or a child whose name changes upon adoption, a new name is more than just a word that identifies someone – it can be a statement of hope and relationship and promise.
It is the same in our reading from Isaiah. Although Israel at that moment considers herself to be abandoned and despised by God, she is given a new name which promises joy and union. Israel is promised that she “shall no more be termed Forsaken.” Instead, she “shall be called My Delight Is in Her.” And the land “shall no more be termed Desolate,” but instead will be called “Married.” The marriage imagery is a promise of restoration, a reminder of God’s steadfast and ardent love for the people, an assurance of the continuation of God’s promised covenant. God has turned toward the people with the delight and joy of a bridegroom for his bride.
Last week and this week we’ve had the great joy of getting to baptize little people. First the person to be baptized is presented by their family and sponsors by name. Very soon we’ll hear these folks up fromt say: “I present Perrin to receive the sacrament of baptism.” And then John will name her again as she is baptized: “Perrin,” he will say, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Perrin will still be Perrin after the water and the oil. But she will also have a new name – Christian. She will have an expanded family, The Church. And she will have a new identity that represents her calling and God’s hopes and dreams for her. And each of us have our own God-given new identities as well. In our baptism, each of us is renamed as a child of God with our own promise of love and a future in Jesus.
And it isn’t just a one-time occurrence. None of us, including Perrin here, fit our new identities right away. Not any more than this baby of mine will fit her name right away; or Abraham or Sarah or Jacob or Peter or Paul or the people of Israel, for that matter. All of us are still growing into our name “Christian”, our identities as members of this great family of people striving to live up to the responsibilities we take on in our baptismal covenant. Thankfully, we grow into our new identity, knowing that the name we heard God giving Israel applies to us as well: God’s Delight Is in Us too. Thanks be to God!
Comments
Post a Comment