Identity – Part the Second

Abram became Abraham. Sarai became Sarah. Israel was named Jacob. Simon was called Peter. Saul became Paul.

 

There is power in words, and what greater word do we ever hear than our own name? If there is power in what we say and hear and read, day in and day out, how much more so the name attached to us.

 

I hated my name growing up. Robin. It’s a beautiful name. But I hated it. And the reason is this: I hated me. I hated being me. I didn’t want to be me. Ergo, I didn’t want the name that I was tagged with. I’ve come a long journey to where I am now, to where I like me, I’m okay being me, being who I am. Who Papa God created me to be. And with that, I like my name.

 

It’s a journey of identity, really. Aren’t we all on that journey? Identity? Who am I? Why am I here? Even deeper, who loves me? What is my worth? What is my value, my purpose? What is my identity? And for all my self-acceptance and self-approval, all the growth and learning to love ME in recent years, there has been an awareness most recently of identity. Mine. His. My identity in Him.

 

A name has greater significance than a label. Or, maybe not. Millions of dollars are spent on branding and logos. Think of a logo, any logo. I could post some pics here of logos, and we’d all recognize them instantly. And copyright over names, and spelling of names. A brand name carries ownership. We associate value – or lack thereof – with certain name brands. And no one else can use it.

 

There are millions of people in the world named Robin. But my name with my journey has in effect, that unique combination, branded me who I am. No one else has had the same life experience, the same journey, as I. No one else named Robin, in essence, is “branded” exactly the same. Conversely, I would not be who I am if I had been named something other than Robin. No other name would have fit, no other name would have worked for me, for who Papa God created me to be.

 

But then…

 

Then Papa God whispers. He says to Abram, “You will be called Abraham.” And to Sarai, “You shall be Sarah.”

 

And to this Robin, He says, “You are Brigid.” Now, if you know me at all, at all, ye know I’ve a fondness for all things Irish. And with just that phrase, I’m now thinking – and typing – with me lovely Irish brogue. So, ye see, the name I’m especially fond of it right off, I am. But then – then I go and I look up the meaning, I do. Now, mind ye, I didna do a great and in-depth archeological dig for etymology of this beautiful name. I availed meself of Wikipedia, and what they gave me for my name, I’m liking. A lot. It says that, “Bridget or Brigid is a Celtic/Irish female name derived from the noun brígh, meaning power, strength, vigor, virtue.” That’s my identity now, power, strength, vigor, virtue. I can live with that. The Celtic goddess of agriculture and healing, and possibly poetry and fire, was called Brigid. Agriculture – I love to be outside, I love to work in the yard, in a garden. And healing? Yes, that fits. Poetry? D’ya think? And fire? Oh, yes, one of her epithets was “Brigid of the Holy Fire.”   Holy Spirit Fire, I’ll take that. I’ll take anything the Holy Spirit want to share with me! YES and AMEN!!!

 

But Papa didn’t stop there. He tossed “Rachel” in the mix, “… root meaning, to journey, a good traveler.” So I guess I’m going to be traveling! Guess I’d better get me some luggage!! You know, so I can go to Ireland!!

 

The thing is, though, Papa didn’t change my name. He didn’t take away my Robin identity; he added to it; He supplemented it, augmented it. My mother told me she named me Robin because of a dream she had while she was pregnant with me. I like to believe that dream was Papa’s voice, speaking to her about me, about my future, about my identity. My middle name was her name, Elizabeth. In my quest for identity, I discovered that, “Elizabeth is a feminine given name derived from the Greek Elisavet (Greek: Ελισάβετ), which is a form of the Hebrew name Elisheva ( אֱלִישֶׁבַע ), meaning “My God is an oath” or “My God is abundance.” No explanation necessary.

 

And Robin? What of my dream-name? The name Papa whispered to me mum before I was born? What is its meaning, you ask. Bright fame. My name means bright fame.

 

Get ready world! I’m powerful, strong, vigorous, virtuous, and I’m a’travelling.

 

#identity

#oath

#abundance

#brightfame

#travel

#powerstrengthvigorvirtue

#logo

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