Dressed for the Occasion

Yesterday Prime Minister Rishi Sunak arrived at the G20 gala dinner ‘in a Balinese shirt and blue suede shoes that cost £450.’

The England football team arrived in Qatar for the World Cup in their team kit… travelling with Virgin Atlantic who said its ‘gender-neutral uniform policy does not apply to the crew on board the England team’s flight…’

Dressed for the occasion

When I was a child I wore my ‘Sunday best’ to church. When I was a teacher I wore a shirt, tie and smart jacket. This morning I’m wearing a sweatshirt and jeans… Later when I go out in the wind and rain I’ll put on a coat…

I can dress to make a statement, express my personality or just wear what I like or feel comfortable in.

Dressed for the occasion

St Paul’s said: ‘…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.’ (Colossians 3)

In the same way as I put on my sweatshirt and jeans I put on compassion or kindness. It’s a deliberate act – expressing my personality, wearing them regularly so that they feel comfortable.

Dressed for the occasion,

Hans Christian Anderson told the story of a vain king who loved his clothes. A pair of swindlers claimed to make the finest clothes, which couldn’t be seen by people who were stupid.

As he didn’t want to appear stupid he pretended to be able to see these non-existent ‘new clothes’, parading them through the streets. His courtiers and the onlookers, not wishing to appear stupid, all admired them. A small child saw and said ‘He’s got has nothing on!’…

Dressed for the occasion?

Musing… I may think I put on gentleness, and love, but really, like the emperor’s clothes, they may be a pretence and non-existent. I need honesty and humility rather than pride and stupidity…

…praying that today, whatever happens, I’m

Dressed for the occasion.