Names

by Kelly Knowlden

“Humility, at least in part, is the act of giving and receiving true names. Not the names that pride would have us accept that are ours by right, but neither the names that shame would have us accept which may contain a grain of truth but are not the whole truth.”1 Do you remember how Grima Wormtongue ‘named’ King Theoden in The Two Towers? “You are tired and old...”

You are I name ourselves all the time. We do it by our thoughts of “I’m great,” or “I’m stupid.” We base our understanding of our self on comparisons with others and determine how we rate, on everything from abilities... to looks... to popularity. Then we ‘name’ ourselves and act accordingly.

In many instances we take ourselves far too serious. We forget that God’s determination of us is not based on any horizontal comparisons. Cosmic laughter is God’s response to Osama bin Laden. (Ps. 2:2 says, the kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against His Anointed One. “Let us break their chains,,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs.) Could it be that my names for myself are not the accurate ways that God sees me? They really become our “emperor’s clothes.”

Could it be that my importance be no more than dust? Yet, my prayers move the heart of the King of the Universe! Perhaps my importance is to be a dust particle that plays out the role of faithful dust! Then for sure laughter is indeed the best response. When I remember that the God in Heaven names us, why, then we have a Name that is worthy to bear! Then my microscopic existence is enlarged! He tells me that I am His son... a warrior... blessed... steward... redeemed...etc. That changes those old names so that I gain a biblical understanding of who I am. That is true humility.

1 Tolkien’s Ordinary Virtues, Mark Eddy Smith