fire ant bites

If you checked in on my first post, you may realize that I've now changed the name of my blog. Up until yesterday this slice of the internet was called Between Two Pasadenas, a reference to me having lived in both Pasadena, Texas and Pasadena, California. Currently, however, I live in Inglewood, California, rendering the Pasadena/Pasadena connection moot. I've realized this blog has needed a new title for some time, but when you're not actively updating it doesn't matter all that much.

So, that's it for the old title. What's up with the new one?

I chose The Fire Ant Mound in reference to a nickname given to me by the youth group at my church. After several months of working with the congregation, the youth leaders decided to christen me "Fire Ant." They had hyped the coming naming ceremony for a few weeks, and I'll be honest - when I first heard the name chosen for me, I was kind of let down. I thought, "Just a fire ant? That's it?"

I came around when I heard the reasoning. Here's what I was told:

1) I'm from Texas. There are many fire ants in Texas. ...nothing amazing about that, I suppose.

2) I am often a somewhat silent person, holding back comments in group conversation. Apparently, I occasionally slip in witty observations or suggestions. I’m kind of like a fire ant going in for the sting.

I was pretty flattered by my nickname when I heard that explanation. I want to be the kind of person who talks when he has something to say, whose words have value when they’re spoken. Too many people love the sound of their own voices, and too many people are afraid to speak up at all. I hope that when I'm at my best I can find the tension between the two. Hopefully I can live up to the fire ant reputation (without being an invasive pest, of course).