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Wednesday Word of the Day
What’s in Every Name But a Measure of Dignity, Life, and Love?
Names are Important. They Matter. You Matter.
O Spirit, help me to hold tight
To the names that offer life and joy
Love and hospitality
Beauty and grace.
The word “name” as a noun means “a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known, addressed, or referred to” or a “famous person.”
The word “name” as a verb means “give a name to, give a particular title or epithet to, mention or cite by name, appoint (someone) to a particular position or task or specify (an amount, time, or place) as something desired, suggested, or decided on.”
I always say that names are important. Names are something given to objects and creatures. Parents give babies names. How many parents do you know who have agonized over what name to give their child?
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.”
— Shannon L. Alder
My mother tells a story about the time when the Japanese invaded Korea and all Koreans had to not only speak Japanese only but had to take Japanese names. So, my eldest aunt chose the last name Fujiyama because Mount Fujiyama is the highest point in Japan. It is a sacred mountain for pilgrims. Each of her sisters was given a name that was associated with their demeanor and personality.
My aunt chose Fujiyama because she said, “we are survivors and a family that will endure like a high mountain in the sky.” It was her way of draping a coat of hope across each of the family member’s shoulders.
Names give meaning to existence and bestow dignity to every living thing. To name something is to honor and acknowledge its existence.
A chair is a chair. A bowl is a bowl. Each has its purpose. Naming a person or thing means you are giving it attention. Lovers give silly nicknames to each other, and parents give names to their unborn babies— the first nonbiological marker to their human self. You give names and nicknames to pets, as your voice changes pitch and tone.
