I don’t know about you, but I have a fascination for names! Yes. NAMES! I name my car, my camera, my computer, etc. Basically any inanimate object that is of importance to me, I name. Why you ask?! I just do! (DON’T JUDGE.) Don't be alarmed if I come up to you and start calling you by a different name. (Again, please don't judge.) No worries though, if your name is Becky, I won't start calling you by a random name like Bon Qui Qui. (Although, I might randomly bust out my Bon Qui Qui on you if need be.) I might give you a little pet name as a term of endearment..nothing too craycray. Exhibit A below.
Meet my friend Alec M Perez. I refer to him as Friendship. We've been friends for almost 5 years now..or is it 7…I can't remember. 😉 Now that's friendship, eyy?! The ridiculous girl to the right is Amanda. I call her CrayCray. I think the name speaks for itself. But I digress…
Bottomline, I like naming things. I believe names can carry important meaning for an individual/thing's identity. I mean, let’s be real, there really is no originality in calling something “Thing 1” or “Thing 2” (although Dr. Seuss would be honored by the reference). So I began to honor the things that serve me on the daily ie. computer, camera, etc by giving them names and personalities. After years of naming things for fun, I have come to believe in what the Romans called "nomen et omen," which roughly means "names are prophetic." In the Bible, the names of individuals served as a self-fulfilling prophecy where lives imitated names. Each name reflected and released individuals into their destined identity in Christ!
Now, honestly, I really only started taking this name thing more seriously when I got my Nikon camera for graduation. I mean, I had named my car Rambo (not after Stallone’s character but after a choreographer I met who was so OfF tHe WalL) without even knowing that it means “fearless.” I must say that Rambo is such a warrior and has lived up to his name, driving fearlessly with me across the country and along the Western coast multiple times without any glitches. At any rate, this time I wanted to be intentional about naming my new Nikon baby something PROFOUND… something that would serve as a testament to its purpose on the World Race and beyond…so I came up with Niccololani Kahelemeakua. It’s a mix of Italian and Hawaiian names, which I have always been in love with. It means “victory of the people,” “bird of heaven,” and “one who walks with God.” No big deal.
It amazes me how Niccolo has lived up to his name. He has changed the way I see culture, life, and humanity in just a short few months. He has taught me to:
1) Get up close. You miss a lot when you don't get really involved with what you're shooting.
2) Try a new perspective. You'll be surprised how different things look from a fresh angle.
3) Don't be afraid to blur backgrounds. Concentrate on what is most important.
More importantly, he has taught me that ninety percent of the quality of the picture is from the person taking it. Not the camera or the lens– the person. The power is in the person…in who one is and Whose one is.
I dare you to go on Google right now and check the meaning of your name! You’ll be surprised as to what you find. If you aren’t content with what you find, try listening to Papa’s voice. Perhaps the name that He has etched in your heart is different from your name in the natural. I encourage you to step out in faith and step in to the person that Papa has called you to be! =)
Thank you, Papa, for using the mundane like names and objects to point me back to You. Thank you for revealing to me that it doesn't matter what I call you (Papa, Abba, Father, etc), so long as I cry out…I know that you always respond with TLC. Thank you for pouring into my life and filling my cup so that I may share Your love and majesty with others. <3
More on names in my next blog. Stay tuned!
