hair bows

Ever since I was a child, my mother instilled in me that there was never an excuse not to look your best.  I wore my first pair of pants to school when I was 12.  It was a jumper.  I wore hair bows until I went to middle school, and a ribbon until I was a junior in high school.  It's just part of who I am now that I am either overdressed, or at least at par with the occasion.  And always with at least some mascara.  I sometimes wish I wasn't this way, and often think about if people think I'm superficial because of it.  Probably so, but I don't do it as something to make myself feel better about myself (even though it's a proven fact that if you dress up for a test or big presentation, you'll do better because your confidence is increased).  I do it because from a young age, I was taught that it was a sign of respect.  Slow your roll, killer.  I'm not saying wearing some yoga pants and a baggy t-shirt is disrespectful all the time any time, but in certain situations, I am. 

I work for a church.  It's a like a family community of staff, because it's more than just work: it's our passion, our faith, and our God that we work for everyday.  The other day, I was walking down the hallway, and one of the older men on staff stopped me to tell me how much he appreciated how I dressed.  He said even on Sunday mornings, I dressed like I was going to church which with my age, is a dying art. He left me with saying that it was more than the clothes.  It was a sign of respect for the church and my God.  I was flattered, and then had flashbacks of all of the times I've been told I dress like a soccer mom/grandma.  I realized how right he was. 

We, as a church of many generations, constantly battle the line of traditional vs. trendy.  His generation sees church as a time of reverence and respect.  Our generation sees church as a time of fellowship and extreme, head-banging faith.  It's the difference between worship services: choir or band? Or the difference between groups of community: small groups or Sunday school?  Or the difference in Sunday morning attire: suit and tie or jeans and a plaid button-down?

Last Wednesday, Tim (our college pastor) spoke on "Truth over Trends": how traditions and trends matter, but Biblical truth is what's important.  He talked about how truths are the things we hold on to with a clinched fist, while trends and traditions can rest on an open palm.

I love that I work in an environment where people are passionate about their work, and opinions and open-discussions are welcomed.  I love that we've come to this point where we have to hash out our values, and what truly does matter to us, and what is expendable.  The truth is Generation X and Y have different personal make-up than the Millennial Generation.  We were born in different times, taught different things, worship in different ways.   A heart and a brain are two very different organs, but they both keep me alive. I can't live without either.  And each of them can't survive on their own. So, who cares how we get to the Truth? I love that my church is saying, "Let's just get there together." Whether it's in an a-line skirt or uggs.