Name dropping is the practice of casually mentioning famous people as if they were our close friends in order to impress others. It’s a way of saying, “I am important because of who I know.” Of course it might be difficult working names like Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart or President Obama into the conversation and making it sound like we really know them.
The poor man’s way to drop names is by association, sort of like six degrees of separation. Some examples of this are brought out in the book Elvis Presley’s Pharmacist Was My Sunday School Teacher by Mr. Whitekeys. Real people share their documented, remote connections to fame. Some of my favorites are:
- “I personally know the brother-in-law’s cousin’s mother of the doctor of veterinary medicine that spayed Chelsea Clinton’s cat, Socks.”
- “My best friend’s step brother’s next door neighbor’s swimming coach’s son was William Shatner’s gardener’s daughter’s best friend.”
- “I used to carpool a kid whose mother’s father embalmed Babe Ruth (after he died).”
- “My hairdresser’s sister’s brother-in-law’s grandmother was the lady in the ‘Where’s the Beef?’ commercials.”
- “My ex-girlfriend was puked on by Kurt Cobain at a concert.”
- “My mom’s uncle’s wife’s sister’s brother-in-law is Garth Brooks’s uncle.”
- “My third grade teacher was Liberace’s aunt.”
- Are we desperate for fame, or what?
Some people like to drop the name of Jesus. This may work fine here on earth but might not get us into the kingdom of heaven unless we actually know him. Matthew 7:21 says, “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
When we get to the Pearly Gates Saint Peter may say, “Who are you?”
“I’m a personal friend of Billy Graham. I went golfing with him just the other day and died when I got hit with a golf ball.”
“Oh, really? Who else do you know?”
“Well, I know Jesus.”
“You do? Prove it.”
“My next door neighbor’s brother’s aunt’s doctor’s receptionist is a Christian.”
Saint Peter might say, “Hmmmmm?????”
You see, we might drop a name or two to get to the Pearly Gates, but we won’t enter in unless we truly know and have a relationship with Jesus. So I guess who we know really does make a difference!
