A Name Revealed

For one of my classes, I was assigned a short task (designed to be enjoyable) in which God reveals His name to me. This is roughly paired with the moment in Exodus 3 in which Moses asks God for His name. We were supposed to give God a name based upon our own experience. Here’s what I wrote:

God: Brendan!

Brendan: Whuh?

G: Brendan!

B: Yes, I’m here Lord! I’m listening! What is your will?

G: Jeez, tone it down a notch.

B: Sorry, it’s just…well, normally when we talk, you aren’t so…present.

G: Now, come on. You know that’s not true. Normally when we talk, I’m doing all the listening. How would you know if I’m there or not? You don’t usually give me enough space to speak.

B: Oh, um..I…yeah, I suppose that’s true. Sorry about that. That, and well, the whole sinning thing. I know I’m usually apologizing for something, but I’ll just take this opportunity to say it again.

G: That’s kind of you to say. Do you think maybe this time instead of just apologizing you might try doing something different in the future? I’m just throwing it out there.

B: Has anyone ever told you that you have the nicest way ever of telling someone they are screwing things up?

G: It’s come up once or twice…

B: So, while I’ve got you here…

G: Let me guess. You have some questions.

B: Yeah, one or two.

G: Touche. Okay, shoot.

B: Alright, first of all, why?

G: Why what?

B: All of it. Everything. Why?

G: (chuckling) Well, that might take a while. And I’m not sure you’re really ready for that yet. Maybe some other time. What else have ya got?

B: Hmm. I sort of figured that one would cover it all. I guess I want to know why you let us be a part of it. Seems like all we do is let you down, yet you keep letting us come back to you and you let us right back into the plan. Why do you let us be a part of your plan?

G: Ah, now we’re onto something good. Well, it’s mostly because I love you. And because I want you to be better. You know that feeling you get when you say something that seems profound and it makes an impact on someone?

B: Yeah. It feels great. It feels like what I’m built to do.

G: I know. And I’m the one who makes you able to feel that way. You love that feeling because you just helped that person become better, or get over a hurt or see me in a new way. I love doing that too. You see, I know exactly what you’re all capable of and I delight in helping you get there. Yeah, sometimes it means I have to put up with your mistakes and you’re a stubborn learner. But when that light bulb goes off…it’s like nothing else out there. I love to watch you develop, even if it’s slow.

B: Why haven’t I heard this before? Of course that’s what you do with us, I just never thought of it like that.

G: Well, there’s a lot to me and pretty limited space in the Bible…you can only get so much in there. But that’s one of my names.

B: What is?

G: The Developer.

B: Seriously?

The Developer: Of course. I’m usually called Creator, but I think that forgets my ongoing work. My Spirit is called Counselor, but that’s just part of how I develop my children. Lots of my names are royalty, like Prince of Peace, King of Kings and Lord, but really, all of those are contained in how I faithfully work with my people to move them closer to me. I develop them more and more in my image.

B: So why didn’t that one make it into the book?

TD: Because I love discovery. It’s so much better to learn on your own that you’re being Developed rather than have someone tell you. If I revealed myself in that way, people might not actually see how much they’re growing.

B: So, wait, if you’re revealing to me that your name is The Developer, does that mean I’m done? Am I finished?

TD: No, not by a long shot. Plenty left to do with you.

B: Dang.

What would you write?