What I was younger, I assumed I had to dress up when I went to church. It seemed the theme was “Look nice”, “look respectable”. It makes sense- church is a gathering and our appearance is one way to help each other and ourselves focus our mindset. Long ago, mourning was associated with rough, uncomfortable clothing and acrid ash poured on the head.
Side note: Have you ever tried to get sand out of a toddler’s head? Near to impossible.
Side note: Have you ever tried to get sand out of a toddler’s head? Near to impossible. Now imagine trying to wash ash mixed with head oil and sweat from your head. Each scrub is s reminder of the mourning of the mourning process.
Now, what I wear to a religious gathering is a mixture of rebellion, selfishness and acceptance. I rebel against the shame associated with coming to church “unpresentable”and selfishly throw on a wrinkly t-shirt and dirty shoes. I accept I cannot increase my goodness my washing behind my ears or clipping my nails. I accept that a pressed shirt doesn’t doesn’t let me level-up my religious HP.
This is why I enjoy the awesome artistic backdrops, the selected fonts and animated graphic backgrounds, focused LED lighting and directed spotlights we use when we gather to contemplate God. The aesthetic appearance around me informs my experience with God.
The aesthetic appearance around me informs my experience with God.
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