“Need an ark? I Noah Guy.” I smile every time…not exactly sure what that communicates about me, but I love a quality creative pun, and even perhaps cheesy ones that make me groan aloud. Two of the best avenues to be punny is in naming a business or a color—nail polish, wall paint, or crayons—doesn’t matter, it’s time to be creative! Recently in the pre-K class at church, the children were coloring and for some reason, I casually began reading off the names of the colors on the wrapper, which if you know kids, led to reading off the names of every crayon in every bucket on the tables. Some were mildly creative, using God’s natural color palette like daffodil or lavender, but the best one—dill pickle! Don’t you want to color with dill pickle instead of simply “green”?

If none of that intrigues you, that’s acceptable. It will be my Encore Career instead of yours. However, in my current vocational calling, one of the most rewarding aspects of my day is to hear someone say, ““I need _____ [career direction, childcare, a crayon…doesn’t really matter],” and I know who or what resource to connect them with—I have no solution to the need, but I know someone or someplace that might provide an answer. Are you ready for it? I Noah Guy!

More than likely the comments will begin with “I was just reading Redeeming Work, or I just had a conversation with Chris Hail, or I just heard a message from Fresh Life” or some variation on this theme. Whether it’s the knowledge relished by an Enneagram 5, life in higher education, or a love of the question What Are You Reading? or more than likely, some combination of these, I feel meaning and purpose when the opportunity presents itself to share information I possess. Being able to save someone else the time of reading and research or to share that resource, it’s a form of Unwrapping Love (to use an Ann Voskamp phrase) for someone to find that information useful.  

Perhaps the most delightful connection I can make for a person is when an inquiry allows me to respond, “I Noah Guy and He’s written this fantastic book that will offer wisdom and guidance in all areas of life! His theories have been proven reliable and valid, and you can rest assured that the journey to a Flourishing Life can be found between those pages. No, I’m sorry, you won’t find his answers through Siri or ChatGPT, but the information is available in print or electronic edition; however, memorizing quotes from the book is even better!” And one of the best parts about this author–He loves to communicate with His readers and as Chad Veach shares in Worried About Everything, he “delights in meeting our needs.”

So, if we happen to be engaged in a conversation and I begin to share resources with you, it’s not because you lack knowledge of the topic or access to the information yourself, it just delights my soul to say, “I Noah Guy!” To hear that someone else is interested in the same topics or searching for the best answers to solve a dilemma, I feel a human connection; and when God is the guy I know, who has the information we need, what better connection could there be?

Ok, here is your opportunity to share appropriate and clever puns in the comments below. Allow us all to groan or grin, depending on the cheesiness of your options. Come on, David Waddell, I just know you have something clever up your sleeve!

References:

Veach, C. (2022). Worried about everything because I pray about nothing: How to live with peace and purpose rather than stress and burnout. [Kindle version]. Bethany House Publishers.

Voskamp, A. (2011). One thousand gifts: A dare to live fully right where you are. [Kindle version]. Thomas Nelson.