So "Ric" or "Eric", which is it? Ahhh, both actually.

Many have asked about my name. Most people outside my family know me as Eric, so when they see or hear Ric they get this puzzled look on their faces. My official name, the name found on my birth certificate, passport, paycheck, and tax forms is Eric. However, my family nickname has always been Ric (dropping the ‘E’). Most people are unaware of this nickname for Eric but this month I finally met a couple who have a relative with the same name/nickname pair so its I not alone in this one.

Thus, I am not changing my name, I am just embracing my nickname. Alas, many a wrinkled foreheads persisted, so here’s the rest of the story.

For my entire life, I’ve led this dual identity. When home and around family, I am called Ric. When people come to know me through my family, they came to know me as Ric. However, when I went to school and later out into adulthood and career, I would always introduce myself as Eric. Why? Well, the family nickname just sounded childish to my ears. My older relatives would even call me Ricky and my dad (the step/adoptive dad) would call Ricker. All of these sounded too kiddy and well, too personal. Eric just sounded more official, more intelligent and more grown-up.

My wife came to know me first as Eric. Then as she met my family and started hanging around them more, she began calling me Ric … but not all the time. That’s the interesting part. Around my family, she calls me Ric and introduces me as Ric. Then around other social circles she would shift to Eric (just like me).

So, why not just keep a good thing going? Why not just keep introducing myself as Eric to everyone and only be known as Ric among my family? Why isn’t this Eric’s Ramblogs?

For some time now I’ve been considering embracing my nickname Ric in my everyday life. This transformation started back when my good friend, Chris, spoke during a worship service about the transformation of Saul the Pharisee to Paul the Apostle. In this transformation, this man changed his name from Saul, meaning “great king, ruler” to Paul meaning “little one.” It was like he went from trying to impress everyone with his greatness to humbly admitting he was actually very, very small and insignificant compared to the one who lives in him. In Galatians 2:20, Paul (formally Saul) writes, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Saul, the great, powerful, self-confident, and self-righteous leader died and little Paul, the small child of God, was born.

Since learning about this name-change significance, I began feeling prods from the spirit. Why do those closest to me call me Ric, yet I continue to introduce myself as Eric all new people I would meet. Thoughts entered my head like, “What would Jesus call me (wwjcm)?”

Ironically, or perhaps poetically and intentionally, Eric means complete ruler (thinkbabynames.com) or ever powerful (123-baby-names.com) or an ever alone ruler (ancestry.com). That last one sounds kind of lonely.

The analogy breaks down when one examines the meaning of Ric. It would be cool if it meant “little one” huh? Nope, not to be. Ric, usually spelled Rick, is a shortened name or nickname for Richard, which is also the name of kings and leaders. To me, Ric is the name I grew up with in my home; the name of boy; the name given to me by those who know me best and choose love me anyway.

My family calls me Ric and now my family extends to the family of God and even to everyone I invite to meet the savior of the world. When I arrive home, my family members will welcome me as Ric. So, while this may feel a bit awkward right now for those who only know me as Eric, it is much better than waiting until you get to heaven and then doing something rather embarrassing like correcting Jesus when you hear him call me Ric.

I mean could you imagine how you would feel when the entire banquet of heavenly hosts goes silent and they’re all looking at you when you say, “No, no Jesus, his name is Eric.” You would probably be mad at me for not telling you, huh?

(You may leave your thank you note as a comment;-)

–ric

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