25/11/2009

By the very nature of my job I often officiate at public functions where a proper dress code is required. Never is this more important than at weddings. Here people make a real effort, and not just the Bride and groom, to choose the right outfit for the occasion.

Nothing wrong with that of course, although perhaps it can sometimes rather get out of hand.

But it’s the values in which we dress that are far more significant indicators of the kind of society and individuals we are. This is where Christian faith places the emphasis. Not on external accessories which we put on and then discard randomly but on those personal, internal qualities which are integral to our sense of identity.

Here’s how the Apostle Paul described the dress sense of faith “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, compassion, kindness, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, forgiving each other. And above all these put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony “

Paul goes onto mention one more value in the wardrobe which has become our signature piece this week- thanksgiving. “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Giving thanks - whatever you say or do.

And that means the workplace, the home and community. These are frequently places that function best in a climate of appreciation. Not that it requires us to dress our language in shallow flattery but rather in genuine comments of thankfulness.

So whether or not we will get ready for work today and arrive to find the appointments diary too full, the committee meeting over running, the lunch date cancelled, perhaps we need to remember that it’s not how smart the suit but how thankful the heart which really makes a positive difference in the lives of others.