Wear Your Name
Click on the album picture for a sample of this song.
Back in the fall of 2000, I was on my way to play for an evangelistic meeting that was being held near the Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, DC. While riding the subway, I started putting the lyrics together, memorizing them, because I had no pen and paper to write! As I walked from the metro station to the tent, some 10-15 minutes, God gave me the words to this song that I wrote in the style of an English folksong. It wasn’t really until a year later that I would understand what it truly meant, though.
I was on a musicological trip through Europe, kind of like a treasure hunt through old libraries, digging up old music that hadn’t been performed in well over 100 years. I was searching for a church where I could worship on Sabbath while staying with some friends in Sondrio, a small town in the north of Italy, some 2 hours by train north of Milan. I missed my train to Milan (twice!) and so I knew that by the time I’d finally arrive, it would be too late. Frustrated, I called the church in Milan, and they told me of a small church in Tirano, a small town some 30 mins. by train from where I was staying. I was thrilled! I caught the next train and, like they said, in 30 minutes, I arrived. However, when I got off the train and walked out into the plaza, there was not a taxi in sight. I really wanted to go to church that Sabbath morning, to find myself in the company of believers. It was getting late, and, the train would be returning to Sondrio pretty soon. I looked out at the empty plaza and then prayed, “Lord, I’ve tried my best. If no taxis show by the time the train is about to leave, I’ll just go on back to Sondrio...but please, send a cab to take me to church. I really want to go.”
Just a few minutes later, as they were calling for the train’s departure, one cab showed up. I rejoiced deep down inside, gave the driver the address of the church, and off we went. When we got to the church, I was surprised to see that it was a simple building in the middle of a residential neighborhood, not with your typical church layout. The doors were closed, the curtains drawn, and I didn’t hear any sounds. My heart sank. “Did I arrive too late?” I wondered. Suddenly, a little boy wearing thick glasses, about 6 or 7 years old, opened the door and stepped out.
“È questa la chiesa avventista?” (Is this the Adventist church?) I asked him.
“Sì”, he replied.
“Posso entrare?” (Can I come in?) I asked.
“Sì”, he replied again.
I entered the small church to find a group of about 20 people preparing to celebrate communion. Wow...it was like an oasis in the desert, something for which my heart was longing for, because it had been a long time since I had celebrated this meaningful service. The people were warm, very friendly, and I praise God that I was fluent in Italian and could understand all that was said.
At the end of the service, I stood outside with some of my newfound brothers in the faith and asked, “How is it for you as a Seventh-day Adventist in this country? I mean, you must stick out as really different here!” His response awed me. He said, “Well, there are some folks who find us to be a little weird, some think we’re crazy...but we aim to live what we preach.”
Powerful words. Enough said. At that moment, I had a huge reminder of how important it is for the Christian to live what he preaches. To wear the name of Jesus, and wear it well. I pray that it is your goal to do the same. Be encouraged by these words:
I’ll Wear Your name, I’ll wear it well
Never, oh Lord my faith to sell
From my life all sin expel
I’ll wear Your name, and I’ll wear it well.