Has Your Name Changed Recently?

I didn’t think I had changed my name recently, but apparently—age or clerk training, I suspect the latter—I became “Miss Julia" about two weeks ago to every cashier in my shopping circles.  Why that conjures up pictures of “Miss Daisy” in my mind, I’m not sure, but I suddenly feel extremely old.  I much prefer the informal “Julie,” which has been my chosen nickname for as long as I can remember being asked.  Besides that,  I’ve been called Mrs. Halstead or Reverend (with an occasional Sister Halstead thrown in for good measure), since I crossed some age bump years and years ago, but the “Miss Julia” thing is a new twist to me, even here in the South.

One thing I know for sure, however, and that is my Christian identity.  I received that watermark of a name in the arms of Rev. Winner at Community Methodist Church in Dayton, Ohio, at two months of age.  I believe I slept through the monumentous event of my baptism.  My parents were grateful for that quiet moment of grace, I'm confident.

For the longest time, I took the name Christian for granted.  And for way too long, I’ve been in vast company with others who have taken on the name when we profess the faith, without appropriating the Story, the living memory, that determines the meaning of the name we bear.  Hence, we cannot see our lives in continuity with the redemptive history in which we have been adopted—namely, God’s “for us” work through Israel and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It’s not all our fault.  The Church hasn’t been the best, in many cases, in making that Story accessible to us.  But at some point, when we know better, we need to take that responsibility onto our own shoulders, or at least make ourselves available when God points the way for our appropriating the Story.

So hello, Beloved Christian!  We are family, sharing a common name.  Remember who you are, even when some young whippersnapper calls you “Miss Julia,” or something else you’re not familiar answering to.  We are all “Christian,” children of The Way.

Grace and joy,

Julie