The Thing About a Name – Reputation

I learned a very valuable lesson when I was young. I was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. That is the home of the University of Michigan. Both my brothers, both my parents and both my dad’s parents all graduated from the University of Michigan. To go with that, my last name was prominently posted in large letters on a store front across the street from the main U of M campus.  VAN BOVEN Inc was founded in 1921. A purveyor of fine mens clothing. (Think Brooks Brothers, only independent.) My father was a haberdasher =}!

My dad was my boss starting at age 8. That is when he hired me for 25 cents and hour to watch for “five-finger discounts” during the semi-annual sale. My instructions were to “be a body” up by the door. I was even granted the exceptional privilege by my grandpa to sit on a stool! (“employees never sit, it looks lazy and sloppy”)

I was told, if I saw anyone looking like they might want to put any merchandise in their coat or purse on their way out the door, I was to ask politely, “May I help you?” In all my 16 or so years working seasonally for Van Boven’s I only had to ask for those reasons a hand full of times, but I am sure my simple presence was the money saver dad wanted.

So, I went through my early life being a kid and learning the family virtues of honesty and hard work. To be sure I flirted with a few other characteristics that were not exactly virtuous, but in all, I learned that good behavior generally wins the day.

I also began to notice that my name, my Van Boven name, carried weight. I did not fully understand it. It was mostly good, but it also felt as though it haunted me, especially when I was less than virtuous.

One year, long before I was born, a Van Boven customer was offended because he did not receive a Christmas card from the store while others had. That over sight of the card lead to the decision that Christmas cards were no longer sent by any Van Boven, store or family.

We also were not allowed to put any kind of bumper stickers on any vehicle we drove for fear of being identified and possibly offending a customer or potential customer to avoid losing business.

During the depression in the 1930’s, when someone was out of work but landed an interview, many knew they could go see my grandpa, Pete Van Boven, and he would quietly “see to it” that they had a clean shirt and tie, at the very least, to not only use for the interview, but to have to start work.

I have many more stories of the reputation and the accompaning responsibility of my family name, but the point is: the name Van Boven is a respected name in Ann Arbor and beyond.

I liked that, but at 18 years old I had questions. I won a city-wide award in High School. That and a few other achievements made me ask if I was noticed because of my name, or if I truly earned that and other awards on my own.

“Did people like me for me, or did people like me because of my name?”

To resolve that nagging question in my mind and heart, I determined to not attend the University of Michigan as my family had for generations. I chose to go to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana!

At IU, I became the starting field hockey goalie as a freshman. I joined a sorority and I eventually became a leader there and in the campus ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. (now CRU) After the initial culture shock of moving to southern Indiana, adjustments to my new realities, hard work and no small amount of fun, the answer to my question of why people like me crystallized.

Yes, people like me for me, however, it takes a long time to build a good reputation!

By going away to school, I learned what a blessing a good reputation is and how hard it is to establish. I guess it gave me an idea of what I was aiming for.

I also began to appreciate how important the good foundation my parents had instilled in me was. The biblical principles and virtues that are part of the Van Boven family culture and name. That foundation is what allows me to go where ever God takes me and do it again, whether or not everybody knows my name. =}

How do you want to be known? Besides running away and starting over, =} how can you work to strengthen your reputation?

God, Grant us wisdom and abundant grace to know how we may best represent Your name and reputation, not as a burden, but full of Your joy. Amen