What's in a Name?

For most of my adult life I have been fascinated by names and what they mean. Some are strong and some are not so strong. Names used to have much more meaning than they do today - back in previous ages when people knew what the words meant. They were perhaps more titles than just names alone. They were declarations and often people would get new names with their passage to manhood or some other important life event. Today, although altered, it seems we have not entirely left this practice behind. Let me illustrate.

The other day as I was walking by someone's office at work, under his name placard was his title in perhaps slightly larger font than the font of his name: "Director, of such and such." I thought, "Now that seems interesting... Not even the CEO has his title outside his door but this guy does." It also seemed interesting because I didn't really care what his title was and I was sure that everyone that needed to know already knew it. He cared though and he wanted everyone to know it. 

Seeing that declaration of, "I'm a Director" reminded me of some of the last words of advice my mentor gave me before she left where we worked and passed away from cancer. I had no clue it would be the last time I would see her, but she knew. In that last meeting she said to me, among a few other things, "Ken, never worry about the titles." I thought it odd advice at the time but I have thought of it over and over again through the years. You can see why I thought of her advice when I saw that title placard.

I have tried to live by that advice and not care about the titles but, to be honest, it has been hard. I try not to care and to remind myself that the title has the honor, not me. That is the key for me. The title in and of itself is the object of honor - not the person necessarily. It is given to a person that is deserving to recognize them. 

This morning as I was reading the words of a blessing given to me some 16 years ago, it starts with, "Brother Kenneth Coman..." I thought, "What better title than that can be bestowed?" For recognition among my fellowman, no title will or could even possibly equal that. For recognition within my family, the additional titles of Father, Husband, and Son, are without question the most rewarding.

Vice President is passed on to the next person hired into that role. Manager is transferable too. Bishop, Father, Your Honor, Your Excellency, President and Senator all are titles that are bestowed, and taken away and passed on to a successor. The titles of Brother, Son, Father, and Husband, or Sister, Daughter, Mother and Wife however can never be passed, can never be removed, will never be lost and should therefore be the titles we care for most as they are the titles God gave us and the ones He will expect an accounting of.

Sadly, these are the titles our society cares for the least. Mother? You have to be kidding?! What about your career? Father? That's great but don't think you have to be married to be a good one. Also, remember, your job (work title) should always come first. Brother? He's didn't treat you brotherly. This is business. These are the real opinions of society at large as practiced today. Sadly, they will never experience the richness that life had for them because they neglected those most important titles for the titles that never loved them, but were loved by the world and that they loved most. 

May God so bless us to always keep pure and untarnished those most sacred, solemn and sublime titles that our true legacy might be the one that was intended for our eternal, not just our mortal, journey.