Parable 37 - Brave Heart

It happened one night in his college dorm. Nick was a good student and had lots of friends, but he was on edge much of the time. This was because on his same floor was a group of football players who liked to joke around a lot. They had this game where they would haze one of the other students each night.

This didn’t happen during the football season, but once football was done for the year, it became a fun activity for them in the winter. They said they were toughening up the kids on the floor so that one day they, too, might be football players. Their usual hazing was relatively quick. One of them would say, “Hike,” and a group of four guys would grab a student, bring him to the ground, and spank him—sometimes on the face, other times on the stomach, often on the butt.

Occasionally, one of Nick’s friends would outrun the group and get to their room safely. More often than not, though, somebody would be subjected to this playful but painful treatment. The resident assistant had a hands-off approach. He believed no one was really hurt by this game, so he tolerated it.

Henrik was a foreign exchange student and was regularly targeted. Nick had learned that Henrik was considering returning home because this was so agonizing for him. One night, the group had tackled Henrik again. He was pinned down in the hallway on the second floor of the dorm. His shirt was pulled up, and they were taking turns slapping his stomach and chest.

Hearing Henrik’s cries, something inside Nick was activated. He was ready to fight back. At 120 pounds, he was like a stick trying to move a group of logs, but that didn’t stop him. Nick came running down the hall, screaming like a banshee. He dove into the group, startling the football players, who ducked and fell to the ground. Henrik was freed, got up, and quickly ran away.

The group then pounced on Nick, who let out another bloodcurdling scream. It was so loud the football players backed off. The resident assistant came out of his room and reprimanded the football players. He told them he would call campus police if this ever happened again.

Nick’s friends were amazed. They started calling him Brave Heart, and then they simplified it to BH. Within a few weeks, everyone knew Nick as BH. By the end of the year, even the football players called Nick, BH. A few years later, when Nick was married, his wife said her vows to Nicholas BH Jones. Twenty years later, Nick’s parents, neighbors, and co-workers all called him BH.

Meditation

In our scripture today, Abram is renamed by God. He becomes Abraham. From then on, he is known by this slightly longer name. Scripture scholars teach us that the short form, Abram, means “exalted father.” The longer form, Abraham, can mean “exalted father of nations.” Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are the Abrahamic religions. This includes about 3.8 billion people.

One moment in time can change your life forever—and not only your life, but those who come after you. Perhaps you received a nickname at some point in your life. Sometimes we are named in a way that teases us, but other times honors us.

Our essence is associated with our name. During this Lenten season, we have a chance to reflect on who we really are and how we show that. We do this through our actions and chosen disposition. One moment of kindness, forgiveness, courage, clarity, or honesty can redefine who we are.

Dwelling within our skinny or chubby, short or tall body is the brave heart ready to emerge and forever define us. You don’t have to scream like a banshee, but you do have to follow God’s call.

Water the seed and ask yourself...

What name does God give me?