His real name was Vito Corleone. But he was known in the neighborhood, and
professionally as Don Vito Corleone. Yet he was referred to by his friends and
associates as Godfather, a term of endearment. Yet to his children he was Pop.
“That’s Pop talking,” Sonny argued with Michael when he joined the Marines.
Michael once said "my Father once taught me, keep your friends close, but your
enemies closer.” And then there’s Fredo, poor, weak Fredo, who when his father
is shot in the streets, sits and cries out to him “PAPA!” One man, known by so
many, by so many names, yet the same person. Some a term of respect, some
professional, some personal, some very personal, intimate, and loving. But how
could they all be talking about the same guy?
In the biking world it is popular to have a nickname. Take my friend Ray
for instance, who goes by Chief. People who know him or introduce him call him
Chief, but when I got to know him, I called him Ray, more intimate. Not
everyone knows Ray, but mention Chief and their ears perk up. Same guy, just a
different relationship. But to his kids he is still Dad. And so it goes with
nicknames. Take Ivan Stewart for instance, aka the Ironman. Everyone I know
calls him Ivan, never the Ironman, yet I have heard kids and fans call out “Hey
Ironman” at t-shirt signings. Yet I know all three of his sons, who refer to
him as Dad. Again, the same man, yet a different man to each one. I know
friends who wish to be introduced as Dr., and I have friends who are pastors who
just want to be introduced by their first name. Some wish you to know what they
are, yet some are confident in who they are.
It seems we all have terms of endearment that we call the special ones in
our lives, and that those names are reserved for only us to use. They show a
certain intimacy, and in our family we each have one, reserved only for our
family to use. Sorry inquiring minds who want to know, not for public
consumption. And that is how it should be. Names that have either been earned
honestly, by default, or by a specific instance. For instance, the first son in
Texas is always referred to as Bubba. In Italy, he is Sonny. And yet many
variations on a theme exist. And even how the names are used in public have a
preference. “He’s my father,” to strangers, “that’s my Dad,” to those who are
friends, and my older son calls me Mike. Always has-yes I am his real father.
And when upset with me, I’m Michael. Go figure. And to my parents I have
always been Michael, Mike to everyone else. Mikeyboy to some. I was Crazy in
college. Yet I knew when my Dad was failing last year when I called, and he
called me Mike. The first and only time he did. So names do mean something,
depending on who you are talking about, or to.
It is not unusual to be in a group of Christians when praying, and someone
will start “Oh precious Heavenly Father God, Lord Jesus.” Now over the years I
have come to tell about who was praying by their intro into prayer. Not
judging, just observing. Would you introduce your Father as “Daddy, husband,
son of his parents, teacher, father, wage earner, dog walker, and
disciplinarian-or wielder of the belt.” He may be all those things, but at that
moment, he may be “this is my Dad.” When introduced to friends. Yet when we
pray we feel we must address God as all the above, just in case we miss one.
Yet Jesus told us to refer to Him as ABBA, or Daddy. Tells us much about His
relationship with His Father just in that one word. Yet He tells us also when
praying, to say “our Father, who art in heaven..” maybe not use the same intro,
make it personal, but He is referring to the Almighty. You see sometimes my
Father was the final authority on things, and when authority was needed, he was
my father. But most of the time he was Daddy, a closer, more intimate
relationship. And to some their father is just a dad, but to many he is more-he
is Daddy. You can choose your own-Pop, Dad, Daddy-they all work. It is
whatever works for the both of you-since it is a relationship. Yet Jesus calls
Him ABBA, the first and last letters in Hebrew. The first and the last-the
ultimate, and He is everything in between. So how personal is your walk, or
your talk, your prayer life with God? Do you address Him as sir, reverently,
yet impersonal, or do you call Him Abba, Daddy? There are times He will be
either , or both, make it that personal. Are you still in awe of Him, living in
fear and reverence, or has it become that personal yet, where you can climb on
His lap and talk to your Daddy? Do you, or would you refer to Him in public as
Dad, or would you fear retribution from those who are so religious? I would
encourage you to get to know Him better. No not more about Him, as some
students do, but spend some time visiting with Him, hanging out, He calls it
meditating on Him. Get to know your Heavenly Father as Dad, and learn to
respect and revere the relationship with God. Have a more intimate, and closer
relationship with Him. Fathers and sons are a precious thing, does He call you
son, or by your name? He refers to Jesus as His son, Job as His servant, and
King David as a man after His own heart. Each the same God, but different to
each one. So who is He to you?
So next time you feel thankful refer to Him as Father. When hurt and
needy, cry out your Daddy. When alone and hanging, maybe He is Dad. But in all
things give Him the preeminence, let Him be known. Who He is to you is that
personal. He is Lord, Master, Savior to me, yet I prefer to call Him Jesus, His
first name. The name above all names, at which every knee shall bow, in heaven
and under the earth. And I know Him that well we are on a first name basis.
And He calls me Mike, or friend. Can’t get much better than that. Yet many
called Him master, savior, rabbi, teacher, or Lord. And yes He is all of them,
too. So what’s in a name? Maybe more than we think. Get to know Him better,
you can work out the details later. Just think, you can be on a first name
basis with the creator of the universe! His parents called Him Jesus, God His
Father calls Him Jesus. He has many titles, yet only one name. What you call
might just affect your whole relationship with Him. “Can I introduce you to my
friend Jesus of Nazareth...”