What to wear
It is autumn, isn’t it? Normally, by now, I would expect to see the green leaves turning yellow and orange and falling from the trees. But that is not the case this year.
However, there are some signs of my favourite season. I have seen an abundance of conkers, from the many horse chestnut trees near to our house.
When I was young, I loved collecting as many conkers as I could, much to my mum’s delight! I would fill buckets and tubs with them.
In the school playground we would play ‘conkers’. There were a variety of things I did to prepare my conkers for battle: soaking them in vinegar, heating them in the oven and storing them in the airing cupboard. I always hoped this process would harden them up and give me a champion conker, but it rarely did!
There is another thing that I have done this autumn. I’ve put away my t-shirts and shorts and started wearing a jacket when out and about. The seasonal transition is marked for me by a change in my wardrobe!
In his letter to the Colossian Christians, the Apostle Paul wrote about then putting on something different…
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
That’s some garment! What interests me is that Paul gave them a choice. They had to actively decide to put on these virtues. In other words, they didn’t just happen.
I believe the same is true for us. We too have a choice in how we want to be clothed – how we interact with people in our day to day lives. Jesus can help us, but we have to decide to ‘wear’ these.
So how about this: Each morning as you get dressed, say a little prayer, and ‘put on’: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and love.
Be mindful that you are ‘wearing’ these. Ask God to help you to actively demonstrate them as you interact with people throughout your day.
If you do, I’m sure that those around you will notice this kind of ‘wardrobe’ you display!
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader