
I came home late yesterday afternoon with a warning for Dave: "Prepare yourself. It's going to be BAD." I was talking about next month's American Express bill. Somewhere between going on and off Weight Watchers (translation: dodging that three-way mirror at the mall) and freelancing for clients who rarely required face-to-face meetings, I all but stopped shopping for clothes, and my wardrobe deteriorated. I had gym clothes, Saturday jeans (the ones that haven't been in style for years but are way too comfortable to get rid of), and a few skirts, blouses, and sweaters that have constituted by church clothes and meeting outfits for . . . years.
Last fall I started an interim job and got through the winter by rotating sweaters and a few mail-ordered silk turtlenecks with "dressy jeans" and church skirts. But then interim turned into full-time. And once the weather warmed up, my turtleneck plan fell apart. Getting ready for work every morning suddenly became an ordeal: Did I wear this outfit yesterday? Does this look frumpy? Is there anything in this closet that wasn't purchased during the Bush Administration? Is there anything in this closet that doesn't need ironing? Where's the Febreeze?
I had to face it: A trip to the mall was inevitable. So I shopped. And shopped. And shopped some more. It took all day, but at least now I have a reasonable number of options that might not make me hip and happenin' but will at least make me feel a little put together.
It's an entirely superficial thing, but clothes can affect how we feel about ourselves—and telegraph messages to other people. Since I had "raiment" on the brain this morning, I did a search on BibleGatway.com and found over 200 verses in the Bible that mention clothes. People tear their clothes to show distress, sadness, and regret; the prodigal son comes home, and his father clothes him in a fine robe; a woman who has been sick for many years touches the hem of Jesus' garment because she believes she will be healed with just that little contact, and she is, because of her faith; the disciples lay their clothes on the young colt before setting Jesus on it as He makes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem; some of that crowd spread palms in the road, while others lay down their clothes as a show of respect and honor; the Roman soldiers at the crucifixion divide Jesus' clothes into four shares.
It's such a human thing to need and/or want what we consider the proper clothes. Maybe that's why the Bible uses our outer trappings as a metaphor for spiritual preparation—we are to clothe ourselves in humility and righteousness—wrap God's word around us like clothes. Unlike what I spent way too much money on at the mall, spiritual clothing doesn't just affect how we feel about ourselves—it changes who we really are—inside, where it counts.
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,
and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Romans 13:14
For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable,
and the mortal with immortality.
When the perishable has been clothed
with the imperishable,
and the mortal with immortality,
then the saying that is written will come true:
"Death has been swallowed up in victory."
1 Corinthians 15:53-54
. . . for all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Galatians 3:27
Therefore, as God's chosen people,
holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:1
[Image by Deepu Das at Freerangestock.com]