Happy Easer to TSJ Friends,
(Today’s blog mostly reflects my point of view as a woman, but men of course are welcome to read if you dare.And remember to click on the green header for easier reading on phones.)
Have you ever stood in your closet that is full of clothes and moaned that you have “nothing to wear?” For some reason all of those things you have always worn no longer fit. (Usually it is 
because the clothes have shrunk over time, right?)
So you plan a shopping event.
Well, it is Easter week and it has been a long winter here in upstate New York.
Spring is making a valiant effort to show up, giving us beautiful sunshine along with spring rains and yo-yo temperatures. The daffodils seem to know it is the right time to pop out from the soil only to duck under the weight of an occasional snow squall or bend in the winds and rain. Since last week our reflection was on hope I have paid attention to them. Daffodils radiate hope.
Although it is the week before Easter and a sober reminder of Jesus’ lonely road to the cross, I have recently turned my thoughts to something more mundane…. what to wear for Easter celebrations. Rest assured Solomon has made sure I have spent some serious time of reflection and remembering Jesus. But it is also a time of anticipation. Hope brings a sense of joyful anticipation. And anticipation precedes preparation.
The winter season and spring season are clashing and I am sorting clothes. My thoughts turn toward a common question for me, “What should I wear?”
If you ask Mr. John, he will tell you this is almost a daily question for me. As we prepare to go for walks I fuss over what I need to wear in order to not be too hot or too cold. I look at the weather report. Sometimes twice – just in case I missed something the first time. I step outside to see for myself. I put sweatshirts on and take them off because they are either too light weight or too heavy. Do I need warm gloves or light gloves? A scarf or just a knit cap? A winter jacket or just a windbreaker over a warm sweater? In the summer when we go sailing I do the same thing. John has very little trouble like this. But he is patient.
What we wear is part of our preparation for where we are going and what we are doing. I am always concerned about the “what ifs” in life. (eg. What if it rains?) My favorite way to justify this neurosis is to say, “Well, one has to be prepared for “unforeseen circumstances.” I know that is over the top. My faith is flimsy at times and Solomon has his hands full.
So shopping day arrives. I have hope. Going from store to store, I fight back discouragement, remembering I haven’t found what I want “yet.” And I keep looking.
To make matters worse, have you ever noticed that the mirrors in dressing rooms show up every single flaw you have? The lights are bright and your mood is not? And then …. well there is the matter that the cold winter has brought too much “comfort food” that lingers around the waistline.
And I wonder if you, too, have ever gone from one clothing store to another and there are lots and lots of clothes, but not one piece fits you just right?. How can this be? Then of course, I think about all the people around the world that have so little.
After one such excursion this past week, I tell you the truth . . . I had a dream about how important it is to know what to wear to be prepared. It came straight from the Bible. Crystal clear. And not in a depressing or demanding way. It was just real. I can hardly believe I dreamt about a passage I have known all my life with a new awareness of its practical truth. A metaphor for a spiritual wardrobe.
I dreamt about the apostle Paul who was passionate about his love for Christ and totally committed to share the good news of God’s love and the resurrection with everyone.
From prison he sent letters of wisdom and encouragement to churches he served that are pertinent for us even today.
And to the church folks at Ephesus he told the people he loved and mentored what to wear in order to face their trials and tribulations. Kind of like my story of what to wear to face the weather. Only his was on how to weather the storms of life that are stirred up by the prince of lies.
Solomon was pleased that these verses took on a very real meaning for me this week. So I am sharing these verses with you. which are excerpts of Paul’s words as recorded in the New Revised Standard Version: Ephesians 6:10-20
“…Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.”
“Put on [dress in] the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of flesh and blood but the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
Here is what St. Paul tells us to wear: “The Whole Armor of God”
- Fasten the “belt of truth around your waist.” {How much suffering we would avoid if we understood the power of truth.)
- “Put on the breastplate of righteousness”. (I often think of righteousness is right living – based on truth, faith and love)
- Wear good shoes (my words – but horses need shoes and so do we) in order to carry the “gospel of peace.”
- “Take the shield of faith to quench the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
- “Take the helmet of salvation.” (Honestly, I think of the helmet here as way to save us from ourselves – our heads are full of judgments, violence, selfishness – we often seem to bang our heads against the wall of anger, revenge, fear, negativity etc.)
- “Take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.” (I am rediscovering the Word in new ways as I consider new ways of hearing what God is telling us).
Paul adds such advice as “pray, keep alert and always persevere…”
That is our “dress for success” wardrobe as people of the good news of the power of resurrection and hope – all because God loves us.
Margie and Solomon (who does not worry about what to wear – ever.)
