Readings for a naming ceremony

April 30, 2007 6:42 AM

We're naming our new daughter this weekend, in front of family, friends, and coworkers. Any suggestions of lyrics/poetry/prose that would be appropriately inspirational and awesome? Something with the message: "Welcome to the world, now go kick some ass!" (in a compassionate, empowering sense, not an Ultimate Fighter sense, unless that's what she wants to be when she grows up...)

The naming is on the obscure Jewish holiday of Lag B'omer, so bonus points for any of the following symbolic resonances:

-bonfires
-bows and arrows (or other bows, such as rainbows, or arching/bending in general)
-haircuts

posted by ericbop to religion & philosophy (14 comments total)

Religious content y/n?
posted by thirteenkiller at 6:52 AM on April 30, 2007

Firstly, congratulations!

I found Marianne Williamson's poem very inspirational when we christened our child.

Sorry for the lack of bonus points contenders :(

Have a great ceremony!
posted by mooders at 6:55 AM on April 30, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

any content (religious, literary, cultural) is fine - although if religious it should be Jewish or non-denominational. thanks for the suggestion, mooders!
posted by ericbop at 7:19 AM on April 30, 2007

My favorite quote is from Louis Pasteur:

When I approach a child, [s]he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what [s]he is, and respect for what [s]he may become.

Not really kick-ass, but . . .
posted by Sassyfras at 7:36 AM on April 30, 2007

kurt vonnegut:

Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies -- 'God damn it, you've got to be kind.'
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:46 AM on April 30, 2007 [12 favorites has favorites]

I'd stick with the ultimate fighter ass-kicking
posted by craven_morhead at 7:49 AM on April 30, 2007

I've always liked this selection from the preface to LEaves of grass:

"This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul; and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body…"
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:26 AM on April 30, 2007 [7 favorites has favorites]

This is not quite "welcome, go kick some ass, " but we plan to use it at our baby-welcoming thingie soon:

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."

And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
posted by pomegranate at 8:30 AM on April 30, 2007

(Kahlil Gibran of course)
posted by pomegranate at 8:31 AM on April 30, 2007

we thought of the Gibran reading, too. and bonus points for the archery image!!
posted by ericbop at 8:35 AM on April 30, 2007

I think you should assume Ultimate Fighter until she decides otherwise. I hope her name lends itself well to a kickass nickname that will sound good coming out of Bruce Buffer's mouth... Chrissie "THE CRIPPLER" Snow, something like that. Maybe you should just give her the UFC middle name from the beginning.

Seriously, I was going to suggest the Vonnegut thing, but thinkingwoman beat me to it, so I kid.
posted by bink at 9:02 AM on April 30, 2007

I've always thought that Natalie Merchant's "Wonder" would be a good song for a little girl to hear.

"Ooo, I believe, fate, fate smiled
And destiny laughed as she came to my cradle
Know this child will be able
Laughed as my body she lifted
Know this child will be gifted
With love, with patience, and with faith
She'll make her way, she'll make her way"
posted by librarianamy at 9:37 AM on April 30, 2007

All I'm saying is how awesome would it be for her to be welcomed to the world with "For those about to rock" by AC/DC?
posted by Loto at 1:29 PM on April 30, 2007

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrendering, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are a vexation to the spirit. If you compare yourself, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing
fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment love is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrender the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentile to yourself. You are a
child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labor and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of
life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy."
- by Max Ehrmann.
posted by croutonsupafreak at 9:46 PM on April 30, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]