We humans like to name things. We like to classify things. We like to give many names to the same thing. For example I have three names and a suffix, I am also a human, a mammal, an animal, a male, a redhead, a son, an uncle, a brother, a student, a minister…. None of these names fully grasp who I am, but they give clues to who I am. Yet we still often answer the question “Who are you?” by using some name that does not fully express who we are.
So why do we get upset when people use another name, that is equally descriptive of some aspect, than the name or names we use of something that no name can fully grasp?
Yes, I know just a few days ago I wrote a similar post, but well its still on my mind. In part as glancing over that post I realized I had not put out a question or series of Question I had meant to ask myself and others:
What names or types of names do you typically use to refer to the Eternal One?
What do these metaphors say about tour understanding of the Eternal One?
What image comes to mind when you hear the Eternal One referred to as “Creator”? What about “Creating One”? Are the images different? What about “Parent” vs. “Parenting One?”
How do you respond to hearing a metaphor regarding the Eternal One that you have never heard before?
Are there names that you do not like to hear? If so why?
Are there names you don’t mine hearing others use, but you would never use? Why?
Do you have extremely long names, which are perhaps a combination of many short names which you use to describe, refer, relate, talk to the Eternal One with?
And so many more questions….
But now I must go so…
Peace be with you,
— Lyle II