What’s
in a name?
Mah Shalomkah,
Just a few more weeks and we’ll be winging our way
to The Promised Land. In preparing for the trip, I’ve mentioned that Patti and
I have been studying Ancient Hebrew word symbols and I’ve been amazed to learn
just how significant each word becomes when its origin is discovered. Even the names of people in the Bible tell a
story and it got me thinking how different the Hebrew way of thinking is verses
my very Greek perspective.
For instance, in my everyday way of doing things, I
greet my wife and say her name, “Patti” (Patricia) but I say it as a familiar
identifier, not taking in its original Latin/Spanish meaning – Noble (which she
most certainly is!).
Nor
do I suspect that when she greets me back using my name, Mark, that she is thinking
of me as a Warrior (Swedish) or a Hammer (Latin) or my favorite – Polite,
Shining (Biblical). Even more interesting is Patti’s and my names translated to
Hebrew: פטרישיה
– Patti,
loosely translating to, “behold the sharp head speaking everywhere” and סימן – Mark, “fastened and depending on water (life and
growth)”.
I’m not one to say that a name defines the person,
but I do believe we are shaped by our heritage.
Our name origin is important in determining what we become. All I have
to do is look at the name of my Lord and Savior to understand this:
Jesus, “Jesus – Jehovah
is salvation.”
He was called to be exactly what he became. Shouldn’t
I be more in tune with what I and those around me are called…and are called to?
Patti and I had over to our house, some of the other
folks who are taking the journey to The Holy Land with us. We had not met most
of them before, but it was amazing how quickly we got to know and respect one
another – not because of and special position or skills any of us held, but
because of our common language – the Love of Jesus that was obvious in each. We
had all become “pictures of salvation” and it was not difficult at all to
translate His impact on each of our lives. I suspect that even if each of us
were from another country and spoke in different tounges, we still would have been
easily able to communicate. It gave me incredible hope for the trip to come
where we will definitely be encountering foreign tongues.
I don’t have to speak or totally understand Hebrew
(thank You, Lord – I was worried about my lack of translation skills). All I
have to do is learn more about the names and symbols around me in my everyday
life – and what (or who) they represent. I’m discovering how complicated we’ve
made language and yet how simple it truly is: All we need to do is look at the
pictures – the life stories spelled out in names, words and experiences of
those around us – and respond to them using the language of the One who invented
and is Love.
So now when we arrive in Israel, I will know also
what is in that name (its picture) which means “He will rule as God”. That will be a reminder of exactly Who is in
charge of this trip and Whose word, instruction and symbols we will be seeking
out on our journey.
To
me, that gives a whole new meaning to the word “Follow” - haw-lak' (Hebrew). As you prepare for your own journey – whether far
away or in just your every day haw-lak', what does it mean to you?
In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1
Berâkâh,
Mark & Patti C.
