What's in a Name?

The world media has waited for the royal birth of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s baby even before she was pregnant. That vigil ended on July 22, 2013 when His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge met the world. He sits third in succession to the throne of England and stands to inherit not just the English Crown, but an estimated 1 Billion Pounds.

Let’s just say my job title is not that upscale.

I have worked for the Town of Culpeper as a full-time Housekeeper since November of 2012. This is the position that I interviewed for the day before Kathy gave birth to Isabella. It’s full-time with benefits, and God has surrounded me with great people. The hours are flexible which made it possible for me to stay at home during the day with Isabella during the first few months of her life.

“Housekeeping!” I’d say loudly as I knocked and entered female restrooms over the course of my work week. But as of July 1, 2013 my job title changed from “Housekeeper” to “Building & Grounds Maintenance Technician.” So whenever I knock now, I say “Maintenance!”

Scrubbing toilets for a living isn’t fun, but it’s an honest job that keeps a roof over our heads and food on the table. Many people in this economy have not been as blessed as I have. Some people feel sorry for me. Others can’t understand how I can stay so cheerful as I go about my rounds. A few weeks ago, as I was cleaning up the Police Station, a fellow Town employee looked at me with disbelief and stated, “You must really love your job.”

“It’s people that I love,” I replied with a smile. “Your attitude determines your happiness.”

You see, I don’t see myself as a custodian; it’s just what I do to earn a living for my family. I feel sorry for people who allow their job title to determine their identity. Yes, I am the Cleaning Guy. My other names include Joe, Joseph, Dada, Pastor, Joey, Uncle Joe, and Dan Marino (my buddy from the gym who happens to be a Buffalo Bills fan calls me this). These are all different names in differing contexts of relationships, but my most important title is Child of God.

Now I didn’t earn this name, it just came into clear focus one day along my spiritual journey when I realized that Jesus died for my sins. That His Blood cleansed my stained conscience. I not only had a fresh start then, but I wake up each day to a new beginning. I walk with my head held up high. Not because what I have done, but because what He has done for me.

My sojourn upon this world may never be as glamorous as a British Royal, but I have been adopted by the King of Kings and I stand to share in His Inheritance now walking with Him, as well as throughout eternity.

Joe

John 1:10-12
He came into the very world he created, but the world didn't recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Colossians 1:19-22
For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.

Hebrews 10:19-25
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.