Called by Name

In a magazine interview, Sean John Combs shared that he derived his stage name "Puff Daddy / Puffy" from a childhood nickname - given to him because of his proclivity to "huff and puff" with rage. I suspect the wound caused by his father's death remained unhealed as he navigated life; as people and circumstances came near to this vulnerability, he cried out with extreme anger.

(I am not using this as an excuse for his violent behavior. I am using this illustration to teach the importance of a name.)

Throughout his life and influential career, this name has been reinforced in song lyrics, award announcements, and other proclamations. The name accompanied a rageful persona; we now see its footprints in the stories of women subject to violence by his hand.

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We tend to name a thing by its wound, reinforcing alignment by word and action.

The prophetic challenges us to fix our gaze on the Most High, allowing His deep love for humanity to coat our gaze as we peer beyond the enemy's distortions to call a thing by its original name. 

As we cultivate our relationships with people, places, purposes, we must intentionally call these things by the name God intended at the beginning. I call these places blessed cities, and the inhabitants righteous.