What Would Your Name Be?

Some of us “of a certain age” remember a particular movie that was made years ago in which the title of the movie and the name of the main character were the same: Dances With Wolves. The main character in the movie was given that name by some Indians. They observed his actions with a particular wolf that he befriended (and that had befriended him). It appeared to the Indians that the man and the wolf were dancing, so the man “earned” the name Dances with Wolves.

I’m wondering what our names would be if people just observed my actions and gave me what they considered to be an appropriate name.

As a teacher calls the roll in class, I’m wondering if some of the students have “earned’ one or more of the following names: Cheats On Tests; Welcomes New Students; Copies Everybody’s Homework; Tells On Classmates; Polite To Teachers: Helpful With Others; Dresses Immodestly; Tells Dirty Jokes; etc.

The man in the film was an adult, so maybe we could wait until adulthood to “assign” a name. What would yours be? Here are some possibilities: Faithful To Spouse; Curses When Angry; Encouraging To Everybody; Gossips With Friends; Loyal To Employer; Asset To Community; Sleeps Through Sermons; Puts Self First; Cheats On Taxes; etc.

I guess this would not be the best idea. After all, we could be wrong in our perceptions about others. The Indians were wrong about the man in the movie. What looked to them like dancing was not dancing at all.

On the other hand, we should remember that our actions will determine something more important than our name. The One whose perception is totally accurate will announce our eternal destiny based on what He has observed as we have lived our lives on earth.

It seems to me that I should live so as to be known by something like: Prays Without Ceasing; Ready To Every Good Work; Worships In Spirit and Truth; Faithful Unto Death; or some other similar “name.”

What about you?

What would your name be?

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