 Derek
Luptak is nobody. Derek Luptak is a
name that was given to me on August
25th, 1976 at about 1:30
a.m. If you call me by that name, my
ears will perk up and I will turn my
head. But in another sense I am
called by another name by the One
who made me. I’m not sure EXACTLY
what that name is. I hear it like
you might hear murmurs in another
room through the wall. I can’t
translate it to English or any other
human language. But when I am called
by it, I come alive.
That’s all you need
to know about Derek Luptak. I could
tell you that I have two beautiful
daughters and a wife who knows
enough of my real name to remind me
of it when I forget. I could also
tell you that I live in the White
Mountains of Arizona and that I am
absolutely in love with this area.
There are so many lakes to fish,
trails to hike, people to know and
books to read that I am very rarely
bored. I love the smell of summer
rain. I love the sound of unexpected
laughter. I love road trips. I love
studying theology. I love it when my
theology studies me. I love music. I
love THE WAY of Jesus and most of
all I love Jesus. If you know
anything about me, know that. I love
who Jesus is and who I am when I
love him. This isn’t a sentimental
love, this is a fierce sense of
loyalty. This is an enjoyment of.
This is life to me.
So I can write all
day about Derek Luptak and what he
likes and doesn’t like. But in my
poetry, in my other writings, what I
am trying most to do is roughly
sketch out my real name. I know I’ll
never get it quite right, but maybe
I’ll get enough of it so that you
might also hear echoes of your own.
I can tell you my name is Derek
Luptak and you can tell me the name
your named parents gave you. But I
long for the day when we will know
each other’s true names. So read on
if you, like me, find yourself both
named and nameless. The telling of
our stories is part of the process.
This is mine so far.
Revelation 2:17,
Derek Luptak
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