One of my favorite themes in A Wind in the Door is a theme that Madeleine brings up repeatedly in many of her books, both fiction and non-fiction. That's the importance of naming, of knowing and calling someone by their true name. Madeleine believes (and partly because I heard her say it so many times and in so many ways, I've come to believe it deeply too) that our names truly matter, and that naming someone is a true gift.
I think she means that in ways both big and small: using someone's name when you speak or write to them can make them feel heard of listened to; offering someone your name when you first meet is a gift (and receiving their name a reciprocal gift); but "naming" also takes on deeper connotations for her. The ability to name someone, as Meg named Mr. Jenkins in the story, is to let them know that you know who they are on a deep heart level, that you've recognized their uniqueness, or something about what makes them truly themselves, flaws, gifts and all. Naming in Wind also has a lot to do, I think, with calling forth the gifts of someone, helping them to realize their own strengths and calling even when they don't necessarily feel they are strong or capable of a certain task. So "naming" and "loving" (with all the corollaries of strengthening and encouraging) become synonymous for Madeleine.
I remember many years ago when the Bonastra group (a L'Engle listserve I joined about eleven years ago) was more active. We had a huge and very fruitful discussion about the importance of naming, both in Madeleine's books and in our own lives. I wish I could recall more of the discussion or had saved it somewhere (I wonder if it might be available in the site's archives?). I do remember one of the things we talked about was whether or not we felt strongly about our given birth names or other important names from our lives (nicknames, terms of endearment)...if we felt those names really represented who we are.
So how do you feel about your name(s?)
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3 comments:
I've always been very fond of both my first and last names because of their connection to Ireland, and my first name because it means "peace" as well. And because everyone constantly adds letters that aren't there to my last name, there's something extra special about somebody who gets it right.
I remember one time we were at some sort of big class meeting in high school and my last name was called, and of course, whoever said it added the "h", and the guy sitting next to me hollered, "It's McCart-y!" That made my day!
I've always liked the alliterative ring of "Erin Elizabeth", and the regal sound of my middle name, and now that two of my best friends are Elizabeth (or Elisabeth!) I appreciate it even more.
One thing that's so fun about Harry Potter and LOST is the care the creators take in crafting character names. So many of the names reveal something about who they are, and it's fun to try to figure out what inspired those particular choices. (And just yesterday, watching the newest Veggie video, two of my favorite gags were name-related, and only likely to be funny to people who understand where those names came from.)
What's in a name? An awful lot! :)
That's so funny about your last name, Erin. I never even thought about adding an "h"! But I know what you mean about enjoying when people "get it right." Because of the unique spelling of my first name, I am always blessed when anyone spells it correctly (as you did in your lovely comment...thank you!).
I love my names too. There's a very funny family story that, despite the fact that they'd picked Elisabeth as a name for me when Mom was pregnant (although they felt almost positive I was a boy, and thought I was going to be Charles, so I got called "Charlie" the whole time I was in the womb!) my Dad, after I was born, was thinking it might be nice if they named me after my grandmothers instead. I guess the idea that I was their last child and all, and had turned out to be a girl after all...
Anyway, I loved my grandmothers deeply, but I am oh so very glad that my mother put her foot down and that I was NOT named "Lola Selma." Kid you not!
Mom said she just waited till Dad was out of the hospital room and then filled in the papers really quickly. :-) My middle name is Ruth, a good Biblical name from a story I love. Dana teases me that when he married me, it made me "ruthless" but technically, I kept all my names legally. In fact, I think R. still shows up as my middle initial on certain legal documents. I tried for a while using two middle initials: "R.M." but it looked cumbersome. Eventually I chose to use M as my sole middle initial when signing things and for bylines. So much of my "writerly" identity is tied up to the writing heritage I received from my grandfather McCoy, and I still love my maiden name.
Though it's been fun having such an interesting married name too...
Is the new Veggie Tales you saw the one that looks based on Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn? I saw an ad for it the other day in the CBD catalog...
Oh! One more comment...
I also love the way your name connects both to Ireland and to peace. The Ireland/peace connection also reminds me of the word "irenic" and of one of my very favorite church fathers...Irenaeus.
And I forgot that you asked me the other day about why my epi id is befus. I'll have to send an email about that one soon...
Hope you're having a great start to the weekend!
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