I’m glad my parents chose a name that challenges me to follow Columba’s example

I MENTIONED some weeks ago that my parents originally planned to call me Martin but I ended up as Malcolm. During the 1970s a television advert for nasal spray meant I came to detest the name. The phrase, “Course you can, Malcolm” seemed to follow me everywhere I went. If that means nothing to you, the adverts can still be found on YouTube.

Later, I discovered that the name means “Follower of Columba” and on hearing his story I came to love the name again. Columba was born in Ireland in the sixth century. He was leader of his tribe and fell into a dispute with another tribal leader over an argument about who owned the right to a particular book. Sounds trivial set down like that but it led to an inter-tribal war with Finnian of Movilla Abbey, during which hundreds of men were killed.

Appalled at what had happened, and the part he had played, Columba gave up his title and position, leaving Ireland vowing never to return. He sailed away until he landed on Iona, off the Western Coast of Scotland. Here he climbed a hill and looked back in the direction from which he had come. He could no longer see the country of his birth and so vowed to stay on Iona.

Columba founded a Christian community here and people travelled from all over Britain to learn from him. The spread of Christianity across Scotland and Northern Britain owes much to his faith, teaching and example. The community he began continues on Iona to this day and people continue to journey to this remote and tiny island to reflect on the life of Columba and their own life of faith.

Columba’s understanding of God’s love and compassion for the people he created and his ability to recognise the presence of God throughout the whole of creation still speaks to people 1500 hundred years later. Because names matter, I am glad, despite knowing nothing of its origin, my parents chose a name for me that challenges me day by day to follow the example of Columba.