Naming things
Naming something and having the authority over and the responsibility to care for something seem interconnected.
Naming is a symbol of authority. When you name something it means you have authority over it (otherwise you wouldn’t have the right to name it in the first place). It also seems to mean that you automatically have the responsibility of care for it too.
Looking at the Garden of Eden in Genesis, it is interesting how Yahweh our Heavenly Father gave Adam the job of naming every creature. It was the most direct way of stating that man has dominion (authority) over animals. The responsibility to care for and be a steward of creation came with that.
Parents name their children because the children have been given to them to care for and raise. Again, the responsibility of care and love is there too.
We’re constantly naming things. Just today I had to name this post, name some files I created, and am considering how to name a few other things. We know names are important, but I wonder if we ever consider the responsibility that goes with it.
What are your thoughts? Feel free to email me. (There’s a contact link at the very bottom of the page.)