WHAT'S IN MY NAME, YOUR NAME, HIS NAME, A NAME?

Many years ago, back in the days of ancient times, Bible times, Native American times and others, babies were named for their fathers or for some attribute they had or their families wanted them to have.

When John, the cousin of Jesus, was born, his father was told by God to name him 'John'. The people protested, saying there was no one in his family with that name. He stood up to the crowds and insisted that his son would be called John. Most people now who speak of John call him 'the Baptist' or 'baptizer' because of what he did that was outstanding.

Jesus was and is called 'the Christ' because he is the  anointed which is what he was, anointed by God to carry the message of salvation and forgivness to the people. Anointed as King and priest.

If you read the annals of the Native American tribes, you will find that those noble people had a way of naming their children at brith, and then again at times in their lives when significant things happened or were accomplished by that young person. Other names could be and were given to them as they aged and their lives changed.

Imagine someone like Crazy Horse for instance. Most likely, though I have not done extensive research on this particluar man, that was not his name at birth. Or Sitting Bull. Was that the name his mother and father chose for him, or did it get changed to that over time and experience?

Now, the name I was given means 'pleasant meadow'. I can try to live up to that name, except that I don't really know how to be a meadow. I certainly try to be pleasant, but that's only half the meaning. But, my parents didn't know the meaning of the name. They got it from my grandfather who liked Shirley Temple. She was a popular movie star at one time and he enjoyed her singing and dancing. As it happens, I love to sing and dance.

In the Bible, where I began this article, it says a good name is better than good oil. It also speaks of living up to a name. That our names may mean something different at our death. Adolph Hitler wasn't a murdering, racist, insane dictator when he was born.  Think about what his name means now.

 Our names can mean something when we are born, such as 'pleasant meadow', but if I don't somehow live up to the meaning of my name, people will begin to associate my name with other qualities.  But again, my parents didn't know the meaning of the name.  At this particular time in my life, I have a lot of people telling me they have an aunt or other relative with the same name. It seems to make them feel as though we have something in common.

Some religious groups, like the Jews of old, still name their children according to their beliefs. This is okay by me. I had a position in the secular world where I spoke to many men named Mohammed and Ali in many and varied combinations. There were also many women named Maria to whom I spoke. I can guess their religions.

When the first president Bush said Saddam's name, it made the former dictator angry because the way the president pronounced it. His pronounciation changed the meaning to something about old shoes. At least, this is what was reported on the news at the time. I have no clue as to the 'correct' meaning Saddam Hussein thought the name had for him. I can't say that I care.

I do think though, that the current questions about the young man who is running for president of this country, and the fact his middle name is the same as this former dictator, is interesting. What does the name Hussein mean? Is that the correct spelling? Is it really Hussien? I'm not sure about the spelling or the meaning. I just think it's interesting.

It is said by some that this presidential candidate may be Muslim, though he goes to a Christian church. It is known that his father is of the Muslim faith. Fathers in that faith are very influential in their children's lives.

One shares their DNA with both parents in that the newborn gets half their DNA from the mom and half from the dad. It is then a unique DNA, not the mother's or the father's.

But can it be said that one also gets their religion from their parents in the same way? Most children grow up to have the same religion as their parents. But when the two parents are not in agreement on their religious beliefs, then it has to be that the child cannot truly be one of each. They are either one or the other, or not really either one. If they hold  some of the teachings of Christ and some of the teachings of Muhammed to be correct, then how can they be either Christian or Muslim?

Which name do they then have?

Just as life can influence a person, and in some cultures their name, the name can influence the person. In other words, if I say I am Christian, and then I think about how others, especially Jesus Christ and His Father, God, view me, then I will be inclined to act in a Christian way. I will not be a perfect Christian, but I can strive to be, just as I try to be 'pleasant'.  Perfection  alludes me as  being a 'meadow' would allude me if I tried to be one.

Many are the rumors about the presidential candidate and what his beliefs and values are. I have never spoken to him. I don't know if he 'lives up to' his given name or not. I don't know what those names mean. Two of them I had never heard before he began to run for the job of telling me what to do. Not directly, of course, but he wants to be in charge of the 'business', this biggest business of all, the country. I don't know much about him at all.

 I do know, however, that to be a true Christian, he would have to value the lives of the unborn. He would need to fight to protect their right to life long enough for them to be born and then continue to fight for their right to live as every other citizen in this country has a right to life. That is a big part of being Christian.

  And I'm not the one who made this decision. The Christ, Jesus, who lived up to his name, gave us the rules for living as Christians. He got this teaching from, in his words, "From the Father." He stated that what he taught 'was not his, but belonged to the Father, who taught him.'  In other words, he agreed with the sayings of his Father, God.

I have also heard from Muslims, and I am not one, so I had to hear from someone who is, that they are also against abortion.

So, what's in a name? Sometimes what you make it. Or I make it. Or he makes it.