Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Boilerplate

I’m Harold Dykstra.  I’m retired, but I go to food bank distributions all over Tracy and talk to people that need someone who will listen to their story.  My time is well spent.  A police lieutenant suggested that I write down the conversations that I had with an angel.  I did not know she was an angel at the time.  The angel, for a little over a year, indwelled a life-sized posable action figure my children bought me, so that I would not be perceived as travelling alone.  And in a way, she was training me for what I do while talking to the needy.  She probed my heart to find out what I believed and how I express love for others.  She changed my life.

In her leaving, she said someone would come.  I had thought that was Jesus, in His second coming, but a new Babs, a little older, the model for the posable action figure arrived.  While I had no desire to start over with romance, Morrie helped her move in, thinking she was the other Babs who had returned.

This Week’s Question

Last week, Babs got reacquainted with Little Suzy Q, now Sue McAdoo.  We are enduring background checks just to make sure that she can be friends.  Sue is never going to tell us any secrets, but we know some about her past.

This week Babs was busy between floors.  She was putting away the last of her warmer clothes and taking an inventory of everything that she had.  Okay, everything that was not in storage.

I asked, “What has you so frustrated, Babs?”

Babs moaned, “I am looking at what I have to wear, and it is very limited.  I have the dresses that you like for my everyday clothing.  That works well for food bank distributions.  I get snickers from people at church, but I wear the pink coveralls that Pink Lady gave us when we stock the shelves for our church’s food bank.  We got the coveralls so that we could walk up the walkways into the Crystal Mountain.  I have a few dresses for weddings, but I am already changing the accessories to make them look different.  You know, there are a lot of ladies that won’t wear the same thing twice.  I have worn the same dress a few times with different accessories.  But I think that I should wear something special for church.  After all, we are going to see the King. ‘They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”’ (Revelation 17:14).”

I perked up, “What?  That was an unusual reference.”

Babs scrunched her nose, “It ties the Lamb with the King of kings.  Do you want the one from two chapters later?”

I laughed, “No need.  But as for your church wardrobe, ‘I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.’ (1 Timothy 2:9-10).”

Babs gasped, “Paul wants me to come to church naked?  With just a smile?”

I groaned, “Is that what you got from those verses?”

Babs laughed, “No, Sweetie.  Paul is saying that whatever you wear, don’t overdo it.  The days of wearing Sunday best are far behind us.  Eleanor dresses to the nines, but she says that what I wear is me.  But, Harold, is it me?  I wear the dresses from seventy or eighty years ago to be modest.”

I shrugged, “And that is what Paul was getting at.  And you wearing your very gaudy pink coveralls to a work session is what Paul is talking about.  You are not naked.  You dress in order to do the good deeds Paul was talking about.  So, you have a variety of colors and prints.  You have a variety of necklines.  And as you mentioned, you have accessories that change things up.  You even have that charcoal dress with the straight lines.  It is perfect for funerals.  Thank goodness, you have only had two of those recently.  ‘Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.’ (1 Peter 3:3-4).  That is you, Babs.  You are gentle.  You are a quiet spirit.  And you let your good works do the talking.”

Babs smiled, “Thank you, Harold.  Since I am new to this church thing, I want to fit in.”

I said, “’A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this.’ (Deuteronomy 22:5). That would be crossing a line.  Wearing something so gaudy that the queen would not wear it, that is crossing a line.  But we have been going to that church long enough that they expect you to wear what you usually wear.  If you change now, people might get suspicious.”

Babs said, “’A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.’ (Proverbs 11:13).  I do not want anything to do with that.  I try not to talk to them much, and I would not want to give them ammunition.”

I nodded, “Please do not think I am trying to get you naked again, but be confident in this.  ‘Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.’ (Colossians 3:12).”

Babs sighed, “The way you prefaced it, I can’t see it any other way.  But if I focus on what Paul said in Romans, ‘Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.’ (Romans 14:13).  Then that brings me back to my usual wardrobe.  That fits with 1 Corinthians. ‘Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.’ (1 Corinthians 8:9).  But, Harold, I know you were joking about the restriction of me wearing men’s clothing.  You know that I will not, but that same chapter says, ‘Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.’ (Deuteronomy 22:11).  Why is that rule there?”

I said, “Maybe it is just a practical one.  You wash the garment and the wool will shrink, but the linen will not.  Now, picture that in your mind.”

Babs sighed, “Yikes!  One big wardrobe malfunction.  Do you have anything more, Harold?”

I said, “No, I think that covers things nicely, but as for you talking about not covering things, I just wanted to remind you that Morrie and Willie both have their children out on a little outing.  And I was thinking that you have not modeled all the lingerie that you got from Gwen, and our wedding was months ago.”

Babs brightened.  “I have that stuff in my armoire.  I’ll grab some and go to the bathroom to change.  But wait!  We have been talking about the proper things to wear.  Is this not somehow … ummm … naughty?”

I said, “We are married.  I think dressing for the occasion is assumed in 1 Corinthians 7. ‘But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.’ (1 Corinthians 7:2-4).  I am thinking that you need to wear some of that stuff so that I don’t get wandering eyes and get into trouble.”

Babs came up and kissed me.  She giggled, “Now, who do you have in mind when it comes to those wandering eyes.”

I shrugged, “Babs, there is only you.  But you never know who might knock on the door tomorrow.”

Babs groaned, “I know, Willie is dropping off the children so that she can see the doctor.  I think she is expecting and she does not want to tell us until it comes from the doctor.  So, that is even more reason for us to have a little fashion show.”

I smiled, “Emphasis on the little.  The stuff you put on may not stay on long.”

Babs giggled, “Oh, you smooth talker.  I will be right back.”

And while she was gone, I changed into my best bamboo fiber underwear.  Babs likes the soft feel of them.

Credits

All these conversations remind me of my conversations with my wife.  We would talk about anything and everything.  And most of the time, it sounded like a discussion in a Sunday school class.

My wife always said to wear your Sunday best, whatever that best might be.  We were frugal with our spending on clothing, but she always looked good.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.