Monday, September 19, 2011

What's In a Name?



            In some cultures in the Pacific region, many parents will give their children two names. One is what the community will call them; the other name is a secret known only to their parents. It is in this belief that the parents hope that no one will be able to curse their children, as they won’t know their real name.
            What’s in a name? We are called by our names, we live by our names; society has placed a great deal on words, especially that in which we are called. You may be wondering, what does this have to do with our journey of faith.
            Christ came to earth with a name, a face, a reality in which we all subscribe to. God incarnate came, lived and died in the hopes that we might be able to call God one of us. But I often wonder what name does Christ come under now? In what way is he revealed to countless people who do not know God?
            It is a firm belief of mine that it is through our names that God is known. God is love and we are to be vessels of that love. It is through our names, our reputations, our realities that God is either lifted up or brought down.  For instance, when you think of God, I am sure you think of people who have represented God to you. Who have become incarnate vessels of the grace offered to us?  It is those close friends, partners and families that have shown us that grace. It has the potential to even be a complete stranger walking down the street.
            There is a wonderful recent hymn that goes like this, “How can we name a Love
that wakens heart and mind, in dwelling all we know
or think or do
or seek or find? Within our daily world,
in every human face,
Love's echoes sound
and God is found,
hid in the commonplace.” I love the idea of God taking ordinary things and making them extraordinary. For our names, ordinary words, take on extraordinary meanings as God if found there.
            People of faith, go forth this day knowing that your name, your face matters, it may not always be evident but in God’s time and God’s place it will be made extraordinarily clear. So the next time you hear or think of the phrase, “What’s in a name?” Smile, because you are loved, and that love shines through you.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Sharing Our Stories (In memory of the Tenth Anniversary of 9-11-01)


         I want to share with you a little known story about the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. Jeremiah had a devoted friend and secretary named Baruch ben Neriah, who faithfully recorded the prophet’s words and prophecies. One of my favorite stories from Jeremiah comes when Baruch is commanded by Jeremiah to go to the temple and read the prophecies, because Jeremiah cannot perform this duty due to the wrath of the king. Baruch does so without question or fear.
            You might be wondering what in the world does this have to do with the context in which our world is turning this weekend.  Granted, many columnists, pundits, and all of the media will be turning their eyes to the past and Ground Zero as we remember the horrible events of September, 11th, 2001. I want to propose a question this day that seeks to look to the future of humanity in a post 9-11 world.
            Where will we as a society be fifty years from now? Will we still be searching for answers to our questions surrounding the fateful day of September 11th? Will we still be consumed with anger and fear as we approach a century from now when most of us will be long gone? Where will we be? I ask these questions, for they are questions that deserve answers.
            You see I believe in the God of redemption, a God that can redeem even the most horrifying event, the crucifixion. A God whose heart hurt not only on September 11th, but still today as genocide rages, and people are still hungry. I believe in the God of the ages, who has stood the test of time.
            There’s a wonderful hymn that goes like this, “God of love, and God of power, thou has called us for this hour” we have been called by God to be witnesses to the redemption, witnesses to the newness of grace. The best thing we as people of faith can do this weekend is be like Baruch and share our stories.  Stories of that day, not of terror, but of that hope which came from the rubble, we should not be afraid of the consequences and what our stories mean to others. We should be hopeful in the potential our stories have to change the course of time. You see Baruch wasn’t afraid of the story, we shouldn’t be either; the context of our faith is that we are called to be storytellers of the Gospel of our lives. We are to share the Gospel through our actions, and our stories.
            September 11th, 2001 will never be forgotten, and rightfully so. Our stories will continue, until they are woven into the great chain of time. Then, when our story is complete. We will see the redemption of our stories. We will see the redemption of the horror caused that day. Then, in God’s almighty power, there will be peace.