Johnny Cash had a popular song called "Boy Named Sue." It is a humorous song that talks about how a man set out to find the father who had given him that awful name. It turns out, his father game him that name so he would learn how to be tough. Indeed, our names can teach us some lessons.

My mother was a fan of "Big Valley" and I was named after the character played by Lee Majors - "Heath." My dad told me they had a time finding a middle name. There was another well-known actor at the time named Brian Keith. It sounded good to them, so they decided my name would be Brian Heath, but my mother insisted I would be called "Heath." A rather harmless choice, but it has given me some slight challenges.

First, going by one's middle name is not always convenient. For instance, on government and medical forms I have to go by my first name. I have had to learn how to listen for and answer to a name I hardly ever use - Brian. This has taught me the need to be more attentive at times. It doesn't look good when you are the guy in a crowded waiting room who finally answers after his name has been called several times.

Second, the names Heath and Keith sound so much alike, and Heath is such a rarely used name, that I have long since gotten used to being called "Keith." Some people get really upset when they are called the wrong name. To me, this is prideful and silly. People do not mean any harm or disrespect when they call me by the wrong name, so there is no need for me to get upset about it. I often don't even try to correct them. In moving to Knollwood I was taking the place of a man named Keith who had been here for thirteen years. Old habits die hard, and I knew I was going to be called Keith, and still am sometimes. I have never been offended at that.

Parents get the privilege of naming their children. There are no rules to follow, but sometimes we can't help but wonder what some parents were thinking when they chose their children's names. Although not nearly as extreme as the boy named Sue, my name has given me an opportunity to learn some lessons that others must learn in different ways. I have learned to pay attention to the names that are being called out, and not to take offense when people do not get my name correct.

Of course, the most important thing is that our names be written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Rev. 20:11-15). Is your name found there?