What's In a Name?

During the Christmas season, we hear these words from the prophet Isaiah: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Is 9:6).

It appears that we humans are able to come up with a lot of names for God. That makes sense, because God told Moses, “I Am Who Am,” which means that God is part of everything that exists. Thus the names of God are as numerous as everything that has being! We could call God “The One who gives the cardinal its song,” “Creator of kaleidoscopes,” and “Maker of sprouting violets.” Individually, we can acknowledge the God who knows us intimately with names such as “The One who laughs at my jokes,” “Hearer of my deepest fears,” and “Lover of my attempts to bake pies.”

Perhaps a good meditation practice in the coming year would be to give voice to a new name for God every day. It would be a way to remind ourselves of God’s presence in all things and to explore some of the facets of the One who is constantly revealing Himself/Herself to us.

What’s in a name? God is inviting us to find out!