Like it or not, it’s the season for dressing up. The mornings are growing colder and the days rainier. Soon, children will be parading the streets in all kinds of outfits, begging for sugar. Meanwhile, the grown ups are trying to figure to be decent human beings in the midst of a political storm, mixed with the soon to come tidal wave of the Holiday frenzy and our own ups and downs.
So, what on earth are we supposed to do?
What outfit should I put on on my day to day?
Paul, the reformed terrorist turned Apostle of Christ, gives us the answer: “therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:12-14). Did you get it? Put on love. That should be my outfit. Why? Because I am God’s son, made “holy and beloved” by a Jesus who “put on love” to save me from my own darkness. God dressed himself with love for me. So should I for those around me. The best outfit, for this season and for life, is love.
So, what on earth does that mean? My clothes are the first point of contact with the outside world. They are the world’s first impression of me, before I say or do anything. To put on love is to let a God given, Spirit sustained love, be what the world sees about me first. So how do I do that?
In the political arena, I remember that Donald Trump is God’s beloved son and Kamala Harris is God’s beloved daughter. This also applies to my neighbor who votes differently than I do. They are God’s children, worthy of his death on the cross, first and foremost.
In my interpersonal relationships, I remember that grace is an essential ingredient. Without it, we are all doomed to bleed to death from the intentional and unintentional hurt we inflict on each other. Being quick to listen, slow to anger and generous in gentleness, is what keeps us in love day after day.
In my relationship with God, I am learning to let God love me even when I am bad. I am walking away from righteousness by works, trying to earn God’s love, and walking into righteousness by faith, working from God’s love.
More could be said. The challenge is clear: this fall, and for the rest of your life, don’t dress up like a monster. Put on love.
