Totally cool that he can memorize names like that! My dad definitely had that gift. In fact, at the Celebration Service we had that was one of things mentioned by over and over again. One that I distinctly remembered said, “If this man knew my name, it made it easier for me to consider that God did too.” The man worked as a janitor in the building in which my dad had been the SVP at.

Just read Craig’s posts and all the responses so far. Thank God for Craig.

Goldie Hawn? I’ll keep praying for her.

Tim definitely has some great things on his list. Um, Todd. There’s at least one way to know when it’s time to eat without having a watch… it’s called “growling”...... Your stomach - not you. Although that too does tend to happen to most people when they’re hungry. I haven’t worn a watch in 2 years now. Of course, I do look at the clock on my cell phone.

As to memorizing names, I definitely don’t have “the gift”.  But I have been significantly impacted by someone like that:  Ted Limpic was responsible for all summer staff at Forest Home camp in California when I worked there in ‘82 and ‘83.  The first night of summer, everyone (150 summer staff and 75 permanent) were gathered in an auditorium for orientation.  Ted went around the room and introduced every person...by name, where they were working that summer, and what college they were at.  I’d never met or talked with Ted before in my life, and his only knowledge of me came from my staff application and the picture I’d included on it.  To say I was impressed would be a gross understatement.  (Obviously, since that has stuck with me for 25 years!) A few years later, Ted and his family were serving in Brazil and I ended up joining his home church.  When I saw him on furlough...he still remembered me!

On the flip side, I’ve gotten people’s names wrong even after having met them several times, and that has also been impactful - negatively.  I think it’s part skill, part design...and part just being concerned with people.  So, Peter, while good handwriting is helpful, I know I can always revert to typing.  But if I had to choose between better handwriting and better name memory, I’c go with the names.  (I don’t know that the quality of my handwriting has ever impacted someone nearly as much as my remembering - or forgetting - their name.)

(BTW, was it a mistake or intentional irony that you noted the guy’s name as Rich Leitke...then later wrote “Good job, Randy?!)

I remember names freakishly well but I also has a pastor who after one meeting remembered names.  It was cool and the pastor that followed him couldn’t remember his own kids names much less he had met you 2300 times.  This was a source of comedy for us. 

My father in Law used to say, very few thing in life need anger to get them done.  56 years as a pastor taught him that.  I think passion gets confused with anger in our culture.