As I began the tedious task of packing away one season’s clothes and taking out garb for the next, I was reminded of how limited the use of my wardrobe was these past months.
Since we weren’t able to attend church in person, my dresses and dressier clothes remained hanging in the closet; daily walking outfits consisted of comfortable T-shirts and cotton pants.
In fact, I usually continued wearing them after for the rest of the day. As one who truly enjoys dressing up, it’s been both boring and anti-inspirational to grab the same duds day after day. I will say, however, that it’s certainly cut down on the laundry.
Whether it should or not, how we dress and what we wear does speak to how we view ourselves; if we don’t care about our personal appearance, perhaps we don’t really care about our true selves. Just my observation.
Reading St. Paul’s exhortation to Titus, a young man he refers to as his “true son in our common faith”, Paul gives instructions and descriptions of how various people and age groups are to act and to relate to each other. What really caught my attention was the statement found in 2:10: “…that they may adorn the doctrine of God our saviour in all things.” What were they to put on? “…speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” (3:2)
In looking into the word “adorn”, I read this in Proverbs 3:22 “And they [wisdom and discretion] will be life to your soul (your inner self) and a gracious adornment to your neck (your outer self).”
I trust that never again will I simply pull something from the closet without asking God to assist me in adorning my life with things that bless Him and others.
