// The first “wardrobe” was the direct result of the first
physical death in a newly fallen creation. An animal was slaughtered to provide
covering for the sinners who brought the fall about. Thus shame and nakedness
were covered at the cost of innocent life. And one of the first pictures of the
gospel message was given to announce the hope to come.
Since then clothing has developed, presumably first of
necessity as better and better options were devised and executed. Later it
became a form of art and clothing was not only a necessity but a display of creativity
and an active celebration of beauty. In the midst of that clothing has also
become a form of self-expression and… a vehicle of idolatry. Now we hide behind
our clothing, not to hide our physical nakedness which we all too often flaunt,
but to hide our spiritual nakedness, covering up the lack we feel in every area
of our lives. //
We want to present an image of “having it all together” or being
beautiful or not caring what people think or being outdoorsy or leading an
active lifestyle. We want to find validation in what we see when we look into
the mirror or what we hear from the lips of other people. We want to be noticed
and approved of and we often turn to our clothing to achieve those ends.
I’m not suggesting that we should not care about our
clothing or be conscious of the image we put forth with it. Neither am I
suggesting that we should not appreciate beauty, even in the form of our
wardrobes. But it has been enlightening to me to muse on the idea of “wardrobe,”
considering its root and looking at what it has become.
We don’t need clothing to give us identity, worth, or to
cover our brokenness. We have a much better covering for our shame and
nakedness already. We can enjoy creativity and beauty in the art of clothing and
stop trying to cover our real selves with the image we want to portray. We can use
our wardrobes to celebrate rather than to hide.
I'm joining the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes
project this year for some inspiration and a kick in the pants to just
write something, anything each day. It is a challenge for my "recovering
perfectionist" self to plop down words as they come to mind for 5
minutes (only!) and let them loose on the internet with little to no
editing. But I hope the process will free and exercise my brain to
express with greater ease and clarity the many vague thoughts that long
for more definition and development, however imperfect they are.
For more '31 Days' Posts click here or on the tab at the top of the page.
For more '31 Days' Posts click here or on the tab at the top of the page.
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