(A puzzle… wrapped in a true story)
I was standing in the bank branch foyer the other day. It was lunchtime, and only two tellers were working, so there was a small line.
Waiting my turn, the man in front of me turned around, and I recognized him. He was an acquaintance from a former church where I had served. The truth is, the last we’d seen of each other in any meaningful way was on a rafting trip more than 10 years ago. We had a few minutes to catch up – not asking eternal-type questions mind you – just mainly the life-and-work stuff.
He had retired a few years ago, just in time for the stock market to crater. So he had figured out that the way out was the way back in, and had gone back to do some consulting.
I told him I am a teacher now for four different universities, soon to be five. I didn’t mention the part about being an aspiring author and counselor.
His back to the tellers, I had to tell him there was one who was available.
“Hello, Mr. Scott,” she said. It was the beginning of a powerful lesson.
Wow, I thought to myself. He must get by here a lot. He must be The Man. I wondered what it was like to have the fab bank teller know you as a somebody.
“Thanks, Mr. Scott,” she said. “Have a good day.”
Then it happened.
“Hello, Mr. Wood.”
Well, Star of the Morning! Whadduya know? I learned that my name wasn’t “Next” or “Mayihelpyou.” I stood a little taller. Felt like I mattered. Faithful and true, she called me by my name.
Above all, names are the world’s way of identifying us as unique. Dale Carnegie was right when he said that “a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” And I had just heard the sweetest sound from some gal who wasn’t even my “regular” teller.
Nearing the end of the transaction, she asked, “Is there anything else I can do for you, Mr. Wood?”
“No, that’s all,” I said.
“You have a great day.”
“You too.”
And as I turned to head for the door, I heard over my shoulder, “Hello, Mr. Minetti.”
Dang, she’s good, I thought.
Oh, by the way… her name is Amy.
So you know how much we love to hear our names? The sweetest sound and all that?
And you know that we were created in the image of God?
And how there are so many names for the Lord in the Word?
Just thinking…
“Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name! Make his doings known among the peoples” (Psalm 105:1, WEB).
(There are at least 20 biblical names for God embedded in this. See how many you can find.)