Name Dropping
I’ll admit it: I’m a recovering name-dropper.
Now the name-dropping that I’m talking about is when you casually bring up someone else’s name in a conversation (ie. dropping the name in) for whatever purpose: to honour that person, to look important, to advance a story you might be telling, or whatever! Note that this is not to be confused with another type of name-dropping: that is when you actually flat out forget someone’s name. The badness magnifies when it’s right in front of that person! But, I digress.
As my career in youth ministry progresses, I am blessed to meet scores of people from not only our own archdiocese, but from throughout Canada, the United States, and the rest of the world. The very nature of my work means that I am connecting regularly with keynote speakers, musicians, presenters, educators, and so forth.
Near the end of 2005, I came to the realization that I was a name-dropper…and a huge one at that. For the people that know me well (such as my family, close friends, YMO staff members, and colleagues in youth ministry), I truly believe that when I speak of some of my more “famous” friends and colleagues, that they know that I do it out of my love and passion for youth ministry. Given the collective wealth and experience of people like (uh-oh…here we go…) Jesse Manibusan, Matt Maher, Gene and Brad of APeX Ministries, Neil MacCarthy, Rich Chen, and Father Mark Hagemoen, there is always much to learn. However, for those who don’t know me as well….I’m sure many of them think I am purely a name-dropper…dropping more names than Mike Tyson dropped opposing boxers in his prime.
So I endeavoured to become less of a name-dropper. I could still learn from people, and tell the same stories…just maybe with a bit more discretion and humility. So there I was…in December 2005 eating lunch with (uh-oh….here comes another) Matt Maher in Phoenix and a few of his friends. I was sharing with them my New Year’s Resolution of cutting down on name-dropping. One of the guys: Ike (who is actually the older brother of Kemi who was here recently for Spirit Day) told a hilarious story about one of the teens that goes to the LIFE TEEN program at St. Tim’s in Mesa (where Ike is a music minister). Given that St. Tim’s is the home of LIFE TEEN, we talked about how lucky teens are to see the likes of Matt Maher and Tom Booth on a regular basis. Ike told a story of one young man who he overheard telling his friends that he goes to Mass every weekend with Matt Maher and Tom Booth. And that he hangs around with Ghandi. And that he takes phone calls from Pope John Paul II. Notwithstanding the fact that the latter 2 individuals are no longer living…Ike’s point was that this young man was indeed a name-dropper.
Upon my return home to Vancouver, I was telling both my Arizona story and my resolution to a certain YMO staff member, who shall remain nameless. When I was done, this person (who shall remain nameless) said “Oh Clay, people drop your name a lot too.” I politely thanked this person (who shall remain nameless) for the compliment, and told this person “You don’t have to suck up Analyn, you’re already the best Consultant for Youth Conferences and Events that I know of.” I then told her that if people are indeed using my name, they usually wind up in a less favourable position than before the name-drop. Either that or they get beat up.
Then, in Hamilton at the CCYMN Youth Ministry Conference, I had a great chat with (uh-oh…here we go one more time) Ann Marie Eckert, who is a trainer with the Center for Ministry Development. We had actually met a few months prior in Arizona (ironically on the same trip that I had my conversation with Matt and Ike). I had just finished giving my morning workshop, while she was preparing to do her afternoon one in the same room. So we chatted for a while about the usual topics: youth ministry, family, the conference, youth ministry, sports, Olympics, youth ministry, friends, dating, youth ministry, home life, traveling, and of course youth ministry.
As her session time drew near, the room quickly filled up so the Vancouver crew took seats in the front row. Well aware of my resolution, Pat Gillespie grinned from ear to ear when Ann Marie mentioned my name 4 times during her session (she mentioned names of other people as well). Nothing huge….rather a quick “Clay and I were talking” or “Something Clay brought up” or "How on earth did Clay obtain his position?" and stuff like that. I admit, it was affirming to hear, a far cry from the usual instances where my name is dropped: “Your jokes are almost as bad as Clay’s” (at the YMO) or “You boys are almost as messy as your Dad” (my lovely wife Gail at home, addressing Sean and Jacob). But then I thought to myself: “Clay, get over yourself.” Half the people in the room don’t even know who you are. And the other half that do wish they didn’t!!!
Finally, Gail and I were at a meeting recently at St. Paul’s Parish in Richmond for parents wanting to enroll their children into the school for September. Due to the popularity of the school, we were told that in kindergarten there are only a few spots open, most taken up by siblings of current students. In speaking to a high school friend of mine after the meeting, he remarked to me “Clay, I hope you don’t mind, we’re gonna drop your name in the interview” in an effort to get his daughter into the school. I quickly reminded him that if his intent was to succeed in his efforts, the less said about the former Youth Ministry Coordinator of the parish, the better.
Admittedly, I have written this blog slightly tongue-in-cheek. But the stories are true, as is my resolution to name-drop less, along with my sincere appreciation to anyone who speaks of me positively.
My aim moving forward is to drop only One name: the name above all names, and the name that gives me the strength to do all things: the name of JESUS.
Now the name-dropping that I’m talking about is when you casually bring up someone else’s name in a conversation (ie. dropping the name in) for whatever purpose: to honour that person, to look important, to advance a story you might be telling, or whatever! Note that this is not to be confused with another type of name-dropping: that is when you actually flat out forget someone’s name. The badness magnifies when it’s right in front of that person! But, I digress.
As my career in youth ministry progresses, I am blessed to meet scores of people from not only our own archdiocese, but from throughout Canada, the United States, and the rest of the world. The very nature of my work means that I am connecting regularly with keynote speakers, musicians, presenters, educators, and so forth.
Near the end of 2005, I came to the realization that I was a name-dropper…and a huge one at that. For the people that know me well (such as my family, close friends, YMO staff members, and colleagues in youth ministry), I truly believe that when I speak of some of my more “famous” friends and colleagues, that they know that I do it out of my love and passion for youth ministry. Given the collective wealth and experience of people like (uh-oh…here we go…) Jesse Manibusan, Matt Maher, Gene and Brad of APeX Ministries, Neil MacCarthy, Rich Chen, and Father Mark Hagemoen, there is always much to learn. However, for those who don’t know me as well….I’m sure many of them think I am purely a name-dropper…dropping more names than Mike Tyson dropped opposing boxers in his prime.
So I endeavoured to become less of a name-dropper. I could still learn from people, and tell the same stories…just maybe with a bit more discretion and humility. So there I was…in December 2005 eating lunch with (uh-oh….here comes another) Matt Maher in Phoenix and a few of his friends. I was sharing with them my New Year’s Resolution of cutting down on name-dropping. One of the guys: Ike (who is actually the older brother of Kemi who was here recently for Spirit Day) told a hilarious story about one of the teens that goes to the LIFE TEEN program at St. Tim’s in Mesa (where Ike is a music minister). Given that St. Tim’s is the home of LIFE TEEN, we talked about how lucky teens are to see the likes of Matt Maher and Tom Booth on a regular basis. Ike told a story of one young man who he overheard telling his friends that he goes to Mass every weekend with Matt Maher and Tom Booth. And that he hangs around with Ghandi. And that he takes phone calls from Pope John Paul II. Notwithstanding the fact that the latter 2 individuals are no longer living…Ike’s point was that this young man was indeed a name-dropper.
Upon my return home to Vancouver, I was telling both my Arizona story and my resolution to a certain YMO staff member, who shall remain nameless. When I was done, this person (who shall remain nameless) said “Oh Clay, people drop your name a lot too.” I politely thanked this person (who shall remain nameless) for the compliment, and told this person “You don’t have to suck up Analyn, you’re already the best Consultant for Youth Conferences and Events that I know of.” I then told her that if people are indeed using my name, they usually wind up in a less favourable position than before the name-drop. Either that or they get beat up.
Then, in Hamilton at the CCYMN Youth Ministry Conference, I had a great chat with (uh-oh…here we go one more time) Ann Marie Eckert, who is a trainer with the Center for Ministry Development. We had actually met a few months prior in Arizona (ironically on the same trip that I had my conversation with Matt and Ike). I had just finished giving my morning workshop, while she was preparing to do her afternoon one in the same room. So we chatted for a while about the usual topics: youth ministry, family, the conference, youth ministry, sports, Olympics, youth ministry, friends, dating, youth ministry, home life, traveling, and of course youth ministry.
As her session time drew near, the room quickly filled up so the Vancouver crew took seats in the front row. Well aware of my resolution, Pat Gillespie grinned from ear to ear when Ann Marie mentioned my name 4 times during her session (she mentioned names of other people as well). Nothing huge….rather a quick “Clay and I were talking” or “Something Clay brought up” or "How on earth did Clay obtain his position?" and stuff like that. I admit, it was affirming to hear, a far cry from the usual instances where my name is dropped: “Your jokes are almost as bad as Clay’s” (at the YMO) or “You boys are almost as messy as your Dad” (my lovely wife Gail at home, addressing Sean and Jacob). But then I thought to myself: “Clay, get over yourself.” Half the people in the room don’t even know who you are. And the other half that do wish they didn’t!!!
Finally, Gail and I were at a meeting recently at St. Paul’s Parish in Richmond for parents wanting to enroll their children into the school for September. Due to the popularity of the school, we were told that in kindergarten there are only a few spots open, most taken up by siblings of current students. In speaking to a high school friend of mine after the meeting, he remarked to me “Clay, I hope you don’t mind, we’re gonna drop your name in the interview” in an effort to get his daughter into the school. I quickly reminded him that if his intent was to succeed in his efforts, the less said about the former Youth Ministry Coordinator of the parish, the better.
Admittedly, I have written this blog slightly tongue-in-cheek. But the stories are true, as is my resolution to name-drop less, along with my sincere appreciation to anyone who speaks of me positively.
My aim moving forward is to drop only One name: the name above all names, and the name that gives me the strength to do all things: the name of JESUS.
posted by Clay at 10:17 PM
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