What's in a name?

"I have called you by name" says God, God who made the heavens and the earth declares that He knows my name and uses it to call me.

Can this be so?  He says He is the good shepherd who knows his sheep by name, and I am part of his flock.

Today I have been thinking about names, when I went to collect a prescription the lady greeted me and immediately got my item from the shelf - she didn't need to ask my name, she recognised me and remembered.

Then, as I walked home I saw someone I knew at school, she was always alone at school and I used to be friendly, try to talk to her, but she couldn't respond, she was obviously on medication, obviously depressed and lonely but unable to be reached.  I have seen her a few times in town and said hello.  But today God said 

"Use her name"

As I approached her eyes were focused on the ground, she wouldn't have seen me but I said hello and used her name.  I called her by name.  And she looked up, surprised and said "Hello, K....Karen?  Uncertain whether she'd got the name right but willing to try.

How many had called her by name today?  Had anyone?  She stopped - to my amazement, and I asked her how she is.  We had a conversation.  I learned that she is still struggling and found myself saying, "if I meet you again and we both have time, we can go for a coffee if you like"  She smiled - smiled!  I don't think I've seen her smile before.  And she said "that would be nice"

And then tonight, on the news, I heard that President Obama had got somebodies name wrong.  It made the news!  That's how important names are.

And this blog is for poems and yet this is not a poem. What's in a name?

God knows my name, He uses it.  He identifies me as "Karen" amongst all the other people in the world.

And he knows your name too.

Karen Holmes
June 20th 2013

A word of Warning

Diabetes, let me tell you
You and I will soon fall out
We've walked together for so long
Yet frequently you mess about

You change the rules, yet give no warning
The plans I've made, you disregard
Like spoiled child who's plans are thwarted
You still rebel and make things hard

One day in church you threw a wobbly
So whilst they served communion bread
I sat in shaky, sweaty stupor
And Jelly Babies ate instead

You like to make a mockery
of all my efforts to control
And stand in great contempt of all
who set a target or a goal

Consider this your final warning
You'll get an ASBO if you dare
to treat me with such disrespect
and act as if you do not care

We have to live together
Though friends we'll never be
Dear Diabetes, understand
You've met your match in me!

Karen Holmes
February 3rd 2011