In the passage for this week Jesus talks about making the name of God known in the world (John 17:1-7). A name is an integral part of a person's identity. When someone calls me by my name they are helping me to understand myself because that is how other people know me. It is an acknowledgement of my place within society - nicknames show a particular bond of shared history. When people use my name it creates an intimacy because it means that I expect something from them. It gives them a power over me because I respond when they call. Being called by my name satisfies a need within me to belong and to identify with others. Remembering someone's name is not simply good manners. It is a form of respect.

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