Names. A Contemplative Experience

I listened to a Contemplative Walk live from Shropshire recently. It inspired the thoughts and title of this piece, as the subject was names.

If you have ever read a copy of The Reader’s Digest magazine, you will have seen the title ‘What’s in a name’. I worked for them many, many years ago. But admit that I can’t remember what that particular heading covered in detail. Something about names perchance?

The Contemplation

Back to the Contemplative Walk.

To help us focus and let the thoughts of the day drop away, it began with the scripture from Psalm 46:10.

“Be still and know that I am God…”
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

We let that phrase sit with us for a while, and were then led into the thoughts and wonderings of the Contemplation. It’s something I love about Contemplation. It’s wondering, rather than questions. The need to identify a right or wrong answer isn’t important, or becoming fixated on that. There is nothing to detract from the peace. No competition. Just peace and wonderings. It creates a beautiful equality in the space. Just lovely.

You can let the wondering wander through your mind, speak it or let it sit for another time. No pressure.

The Wondering

The wondering below, prompted this post. And caused me to think about the details that follow.

‘I wonder who named you and what your name means?’

I imagine one would assume that we are named by our parents. Not the case for everyone, as a recent discussion presented by the poet Lemn Sissay explained. Drawing from his own life experience documented in his book ‘My Name Is Why‘.

It was such a humbling experience listening to him speak online at a recent Autumn Lecture, about how his life and how his name was changed and why. Something he didn’t discover until teenage years, when he then fought to change it back. Hopefully I can read his book in the future. But learned so much about his life from BBC imagine… broadcast a few years ago. And have followed his posts online ever since.

Who Names Us?

Some decide to change their given name because it feels right to. Would I have the courage to do that? Apart from all the paperwork that would be required. Probably not.

As you may know, my name is Penny. Not terribly exciting. But I could have been named something I really didn’t like. Already with a houseful, my parents were clearly losing inspiration for names when I arrived. I am told that my sibling made some kind of suggestion, and my naming led from there. It still does feel slightly weird to be named in rather roundabout way, one of lifes conundrums I guess. But then I have the following text to lean into.

Isaiah 43:1 NKJV

Fear not…I have called you by your name; You are mine.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Meaning of Names

The Contemplation went on to wonder on the meanings of names.

I love the meaning behind names. And spent a great deal of time compiling lists of names when I was expecting. I am at pains to acknowledge that not everyone is able to experience that. I am sorry if this post strikes a chord in any way.

I enjoyed thinking about names, but it also felt a huge responsibility. Keeping in mind the chosen names (unless changed) would be carried around basically forever. And of course, probably most if not all of us have nicknames. Which was also touched on. They are fun, often thoroughly amusing and personal. I won’t divulge mine. There are too many!

I found a couple of meanings for my name.

Origin: Greek. Meaning:Weaver. Penny comes from the feminine Greek name Penelope
http://www.thebump.com

I thought it meant bobbin. But it’s all textile related.

English: from Middle English peni peny ‘penny’ (Old English pening penig) applied as a nickname possibly for a person of some substance or for a tenant who paid a rent of one penny. This was the common ancient Germanic unit of value when money was still an unusual phenomenon.
http://www.ancestry.com

Mmm. I quite like the idea of being a person of substance (not meaning important). Hopefully being consistent is enough. And I don’t mean consistently tired! Hehe! One synonym is ‘soundness’. Sounds good to me, I’ll take it.