Don't Go Nameless!

One of the things I really enjoy on a daily basis is unloading the buses in the morning at my school. It helps give me a fresh start to see a whole bunch of mostly smiling faces coming to school. Plus it is fun to call as many of them by name as I can. They enjoy gettting the attention, for the most part.

After unloading their buses, the drivers are supposed to go back through the bus to make sure everyone got off (not infrequently certain children are found sleeping in a back seat somewhere) and that the students took everything with them. And you can be sure that from time to time I get handed a variety of items: gloves coats, sweaters, book bags.

Not long ago the driver on Bus 17 handed me a nice book bag. I looked the bag over on the outside -no name. I checked all the pockets – no name. No papers. No nothing (my apologies to the grammarians amongst us). It was as clean as a whistle (whatever that means). Now, I can usually guess grade level of errant backpacks fairly well by size and theme. Not too many fifth graders have smaller book bags with Ninja Turtles or Barbie or Dora. You know what I mean.

That morning’s backpack was of the smaller variety, with the Ninja Turtle theme. So I guessed Kindergarten or First Grade. After the last bus had gone, I wandered down to the cafeteria, held the bag aloft and queried in my most official sounding voice, “Bus 17?” Quickly, Hector B. popped up from a table at the serving-line end of the room and said, “I know who that belongs to. It’s Nancy’s brother’s.” I asked if he knew the boy’s name, which he didn’t. But he said, “Nancy’s up there,” pointing to the other end of the room. I walked in that direction, saying, “Where’s Nancy? I’ve got your brother’s book bag.”

Of course, several girls’ heads jerked up, but only one raised her hand, somewhat sheepishly. I asked, “Is this your brother’s?” She nodded her head. “Is he here?” I asked. “No,” she said, “he didn’t eat breakfast today. He is in Mrs. P’s room.” She didn’t offer his name, and I didn’t ask.

I went upstairs to the First Grade hallway, and as I approached Mrs. P’s room I called out, again in my “official voice”, “Nancy’s brother?” and held up the book bag. As I expected, he immediately jumped up and claimed his belonging. I told him he needed to put his name on the bag, so the next time I wouldn’t have to call him “Nancy’s brother.” He agreed.

I don’t know why, but the incident took my mind to a text in the book of Revelation, Rev. 3:12. “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.”

When we consider the big picture, who cares about names on book bags, when we have the opportunity to have our Lord’s new name written on us? What a privilege to be so closely associated with Him that he is willing to write His name on us. There are lots of things to look forward to in our lives. This time of year, vacation quickly comes to mind as something we all desire, especially teachers and students. But to have Him write His name on you and me – now that is something to really look forward to and to smile about.

Anybody got a permanent marker handy?

Dr. G