What's in a Name?

I think I'm asked to repeat my name every day. Every. Day. And while it can get a teensy bit wearisome, I totally get it. It is a STRANGE name, one that can be scary to attempt, so I try to make it easy for folks but saying it slowly and repeating it. I have even prepared story variations of how I explain my name.

There's the: How-do-you-pronounce-it? story. Its like the 2 pronouns 'me' and 'she'... just put them together!

And the: How-do-you-spell-it? story. Its got 4 'e's... I know! I'm a Wheel-of-Fortune nightmare!

And of course the: Where-does-it-come-from? story. Well my real name is Anna Michelle. My folks were going to name me Michelle Anna, but they thought that Anna Michelle flowed better phonetically. In my first few weeks I went from Anna Michelle to Anna Michey and then just to Michey. When my grandmother heard from my mom that they were calling me Michey for short she asked, "why did you name her after a mouse?" So mom went with what she thought was the phonetic spelling of Michey - Meeshee. 'Cause that'll be easier for everyone.

Don't forget about the: Oh! I-thought-you-would-be-Asian(or Russian)! Nope. Nuthin' here but me and my blond hair and transparent pink skin.

And lastly the: You-know-what-you-name-sounds-like? Mushu-pork! I have NEVER heard that before!

If you are with me at Starbucks you chuckle when my answer to the seemingly simple question, "What's your name?" is "Anna" because YOU know different. YOU have the inside scoop.

I used to hate my name. I tried to change it a million times growing up. It just seemed like 'Michelle' or 'Anna' was way cooler, and waaaay easier to deal with. I would have fit it more easily. blended.

But now, I love it.

Its unique, funky, and memorable. Its got flair. It allows me to strike up conversations with strangers. It helps me make people laugh. Its a point of common ground when I meet other members of the 'Weird Name Club', and it is SO fun when I hear of OTHER 'Meeshee's - yep, there are a few of us around :). Plus, maybe one day, it will usher me into the single-name circle... Madonna, Cher, Gaga... you get it.

In a strange way, I've actually become a Meeshee.

I think God has this concept of 'becoming' in mind when He names us: Beloved. Child. Disciple. Follower. Servant. Believer. His expectations aren't that we automatically know how to be these things, but that we spend our lives becoming what He has called us to be.

How is your 'becoming' going?

Gotta run. Gonna hear more stories about my friend Becky's friend Dang while we work at the library. True story. I HAVE to meet Dang - dangit.