Lady in…cargo?

Yesterday I was getting excited about training camp and went to get some gear I could actually wear outside. I like shopping, so shopping for the trip is exciting, yes?  While I may live in Chattanooga, I am not one of the typical residents who own stock in Patagonia and the North Face. The word “chaco” was not in my vocabulary. As I put on the water resistant, quick drying, drab colored articles of clothing I thought would be most “practical” and matchable, I looked in horror at the mirror and refused to walk out of the sports store dressing room to show my mom. I looked like a JC PENNY mom ad.  Khaki…Cargo…I can’t do it! Haha It was then I realized what a huge part of our identity is tied up in what we wear. I didn’t feel like myself because of a few misplaced pockets and an unflattering color. Really?
                                                       

” ¹²Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and

forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord

forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in

perfect unity.”

Clothe yourselves. Why does God talk about these things like articles of clothing? He knows that we worry about it. He even mentions it in the Matthew!

^“25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ^“

We like to wear clothes that say things about us. What things we’re a part of…what brands we like…what kind of scene we belong to…

But here’s food for thought…

 What if we focused more on wearing a shirt of compassion,  jeans of kindness, shoes of humility, a scarf of gentleness, and a jewels of patience wrapped up in a big warm snuggie of love?  That is what Christ wants for his followers. He doesn’t care what we wear on the outside.

Going on the World Race, we will be living out of a backpack. That’s not a whole lot of clothes for 11 months. And there’s something very liberating about that. For once, my existence will not be wrapped up in appearance (or, essentially me). It will be about others. Every day we will wake up and clothe ourselves in the wealth of beautiful things in God’s closet. And you know who gets the glory for those awesome threads? He does.

I’m a big fan of every day applications and I had a huge one today. Thank you Lord, for teaching me in the random ways I learn.