A man was born to quirky parents who wanted to give him a unique name. (Kind of like the guy in Johnny Cash’s song, “A Boy Named Sue”) Anyway, they came up with the idea of naming him “Odd.” It would surely get everyone’s attention and everyone would know who he was. However, it also saddled him with a huge burden of emotional discomfort throughout his life. But Odd overcame that burden and progressed through his life, going to college, marrying and getting a solid job. He even retired well.
As he was approaching his later years, he and his wife discussed their eventual deaths and burial. As they were discussing their plans, the old feelings of discomfort came flooding back and Odd expressed himself very strongly: “I have carried the burden of that name throughout my life and I am ready to be done with it! When I die, just leave my tombstone BLANK. There is no need of anyone seeing that name again, and making strange, weird remarks about it.” His wife agreed to honor his wishes.
Sure enough, Odd died and his wife did indeed do what he had requested, and left his tombstone blank, with just the years that he was born and died on the front. Not long after that, a couple was strolling through the cemetery when they came across the unconventional tombstone. One said to the other: “Well would you look at that–a tombstone with the dates of birth and death, but no name. . . Now, isn’t that ODD?!”
DO NAMES MATTER? They do, and this is also true in the spiritual realm. Can you find the name or designation of your religious group in the Bible? If not, something is very, very wrong.
“The churches of Christ greet you” (Rom. 16:16) and invite you to worship with them.
–loosely recalled and related from a presentation given by Dan Winkler