Curiosity or observation has always been a fort of mine. I guess you could say it makes up for my aversion to talking at length. I prefer being mum so as to see, look and observe. No surprises then, that one day a 'missing cat' poster grabbed my attention. Nothing extraordinary about a missing cat in Nairobi but there was something strikingly different about this one. The missing cat went by the name of Stevie Wonder. Yes, you heard me right, Stevie Wonder!
As much as I couldn't help feel sorry for the family that desperately yearned to be reacquainted with their dear pet, nor could I fail to imagine the sleepless nights they spent agonizing over their lost feline friend; the name Stevie Wonder had me trying hard to stifle a chuckle. The fact that the poster actually mentioned that the cat would respond if you called him by that name made it all the more difficult to keep a straight face.
We recently lost our own cat, Mystique, and never did I imagine crying over the loss of a cat but I did. The loss was massive. Our family member of 15 years would no longer grace us with her presence. I was devastated and so now in hindsight, I'm more empathetic about the missing cat case but back then I was as indifferent as they come.
I had thought to myself, "How do you name a cat, Stevie Wonder?" Really, how? Were the cat's miaows so musical and captivating that he had female cats swooning. Was Stevie quite the wonder? I wonder(excuse the pun) how Stevie was like? Whether Stevie was found or is alive, one thing is for sure; he won't be forgotten in a hurry because of his name.
Speaking of names, I recall that my birth was one fraught with a series of fortunate occurrences that my parents sought to name me, Bahati. As luck would have it(excuse another pun), it didn't materialize. To think, that I would have also been introducing myself with swag by saying, "Ni Bahati tena." As fate would have it, Kenneth Sambu Mwinamo Minishi would have to suffice.
Names can leave quite the impression. They can stand the test of time and leave you with a lasting memory of a person. Centuries have passed, yet a name far surpassing that of Stevie and a host of others remains on peoples' lips till today. That name, is the name of Jesus.
Jesus, for billions of people represents hope, represents life, represents identity. Jesus is the name in whom I and so many believers pray, and upon finishing our prayer, are bestowed with an indescribable peace in the knowledge that God has heard us irrespective of whether our prayers are answered or not.
It is the name by which demons and evil spirits take to their heels, submit or are rendered silent dependent on the command stated before invoking the name of Jesus.
It is the name we honor through how we live our lives, in submission and service to God, while loving God and our fellow man.
Most importantly, it is the name belonging to the God-man who laid down his life as an atoning sacrifice for our many sins. It is in his name where we put our trust and confess that in ourselves, we could never hope to meet God's demands of a righteous life nor pay him back for the wrongs we committed against him. The sweet name of Jesus, gives us the reassurance that our dark past no longer hold us captive nor define us but it his abundant mercy and grace that cleanses us. A grace that compels us to keep on pursuing him and his righteousness irregardless of the numerous times we fall short.
His name is hope for the day of our loving savior's presence. More than that, it gives us hope for tomorrow, that one day we will see him in all his glory and when that day comes we will sure know in great detail what encapsulates his name.
For some, the name Jesus is a curse word, be it in the standard English version or the Naija version. For others, Jesus is a name that should be relegated to the pews on Sunday morning and uttered nowhere else. No matter, this time of year offers us the chance to reflect over that name. Not only is it a time for parties galore, a trip back home, a time to gain weight but a time spent thanking God for the birth of his son. A time when out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks or should I say sings in joyous gratitude to God. Joy to the World, The First Noel and The Little Drummer Boy are just some of the songs that evoke in us a special warmth synonymous with this special time of year. Jesus, is the name the world will celebrate in different ways come December 25th. Regardless, of the long year, with all its ups and downs, it gives me a chance to reflect upon the faithfulness of Jesus towards me.
Many years ago, Jesus birth heralded hope for mankind. It was a joyous time for his parents, the shepherds and the wise men. His name will continue to live long in the memory and I will no doubt give thanks to Jesus yet again for his profound impact in my life.
