Call Him... TODDZILLA!?!
The following is an explanation from Pastor Zill as to why he has chosen to continue to return using his middle name, Todd.
Please call me Todd going forward.
Yes, you read that right. Some of you know that I have been flirting with this idea for some time, but it’s now official and I dare say that the transition is in full swing. For the sake of clarity, I am not really changing my name as much as I am embracing the use of my middle name all over again.
Let me briefly explain: My father’s first name was also Marcus, but his middle name was Tietje. As their only son my parents wanted to name me after him. However, my three older sisters intervened and asked that I at least be given a different middle name that still started with a “T.” They came up with Todd. My parents listened. And I was named Marcus Todd Zill. I went by Todd until I was 12.
As you can probably imagine, I was routinely called TODDZILLA by my classmates throughout elementary school, and I didn’t exactly view it favorably at the time. And, of course, I loved and admired my dad. So, one day in middle school during the taking of attendance I abruptly announced that I was going to start using my first name. I am sure that my classmates thought I was just being silly at best, or stupid at worst (mostly the later). Of course, it took my sisters a good quarter of a century to even call me either Marc or Marcus since I was always Todd to them. I admit I kind of like the idea of making them switch back now that they have finally gotten the hang of it. J
So, yes, I have joked a lot since I turned 50 that I might reverse course and use my “middle” name once again – this time while being “middle” aged as opposed to being in “middle” school. Well, that day has finally arrived.
Is there more to this story? Of course there is. Don’t be silly. J As I have always told people, ‘I never have ulterior motives, but I usually have multiple motives.’ When I was young, I didn’t view Godzilla as the King of the Monsters, a misunderstood force of nature, who ultimately serves humanity as a classic anti-hero. Seriously now, you have to admit that he still looks great at age 70 while still headlining the longest running film franchise in world history!
Yes, I certainly love Godzilla now. There is no doubt about it. So, here goes nothing. The difference today? I won’t mind if anyone does call me TODDZILLA. But if you do so because you think I’m just being silly at best, or stupid at worst, it won’t bother me this time at all. In fact, I’ll probably just use it as nuclear fuel like the real (fake) Godzilla does.
Anyway, I’ll still answer to Marcus going forward and I’ll probably have to do so until the day I die. It’s inevitable. But it’s also certainly okay. Marcus is also my given name and I’m proud of it too, but that name has now been retired. And TODDZILLA is rising.
Fraternally in Christ,
M. Todd Zill