What Not To Wear

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Matthew 6:25

Me To You

Have you ever sat in church and wondered to yourself what people think when they wake up and get dressed for church? You wonder maybe if they dress like this to church then what do they dress like every other day? Really does it matter? Does it matter to God what we look like on Sunday or any day for that matter? Today when I opened up my e-mail I had this story poem in my inbox. I would like to share!

The title, Shoes In Church. This is what it said. “I showered and shaved, I adjusted my tie. I got there and sat, in a pew just in time, bowing my head in prayer, as I closed my eyes, I saw the shoe of the man next to me, touching my own, I sighed. With plenty of room on either side, I thought, ‘why must our shoes touch?’ It bothered me, his shoe touching mine, but it didn’t bother him much. A prayer began: ‘Our Father’ I thought, ‘This man with the shoes has no pride. They’re dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!’ ‘Thank you for blessing,’ the prayer went on. The shoe man said, a quiet ‘Amen.’ I tried to focus on the prayer, but my thoughts were on his shoes again. Aren’t we supposed to look our best, when walking through that door? ‘Well, this certainly isn’t it,’ I thought, glancing toward the floor. Then the prayer was ended, and the songs of praise began. The shoe man was certainly loud, sounding proud as he sang. His voice lifted the rafters, his hands were raised high. The Lord could surely hear the shoe man’s voice from the sky. It was time for the offering, and what I threw in was steep. I watched as the shoe man reached, into his pockets so deep. I saw what was pulled out, what the shoe man put in. Then I heard a soft ‘clink,’ as when silver hits tin. The sermon really bored me, to tears, and that’s no lie. It was the same for the shoe man, for tears fell from his eyes. At the end of the service, as is the custom here. We must greet new visitors, and show them all good cheer. But I felt moved somehow, and wanted to meet the shoe man. So after the closing prayer, I reached over and shook his hand. He was old and his skin was dark, and his hair was truly a mess. But I thanked him for coming, for being out guest. He said, ‘my names Charlie, I’m glad to meet you, my friend.’ There were tears in his eyes, but he had a large, wide grin. ‘Let me explain,’ he said wiping tears from is eyes. ‘I’ve been coming here for months, and you’re the first to say Hi.’ ‘I know that my appearance, it’s not like all the rest. But I really do try to always look my best. I always clean and polish my shoes, before my very long walk. But by the time I get here, they’re dirty and dusty, like chalk.’ My heart filled with pain, and I swallowed to hide my tears. As he continued to apologize, for daring to sit so near. He said, ‘when I get here, I know I must look a sight. But I thought if I could touch you, then maybe our souls might unite.’ I was silent for a moment, knowing whatever was said would pale in comparison; I spoke from my heart, not my head. ‘Oh, you’ve touched me,’ I said ‘and taught me, in part; that the best of any man is what is found in his heart.’ The rest I thought, this shoe man will never know. Like just how thankful I really am that his dirty old shoe touched my soul.”

When I got done reading this lovely story poem, I wiped a tear from my eye and sat back to remember the last time that I had judged someone out of appearance. It’s like the saying says, “Don’t judge a book by this cover.” We shouldn’t judge people by what they wear. Jesus says to come as you are. Maybe all someone has is just some dusty old shoes. God doesn’t care. He wants us to come to him just as we are and worship and praise Him. Why does it matter that we get our “Sunday Best” on? Does God look at us differently because we are dressed better then the guy next to us? Will we get a special blessing because we put on a tie? I think not. It all comes from the inside. It’s the heart that we need to dress for Sunday best, not our skin. If the heart isn’t in the right place then so what if we wore our perada shoes! Just remember when you are getting ready for anything, that it doesn’t matter what we put on our outsides, it’s what is on the insides. Don’t judge a heart but its clothing!

Today’s Prayer

Lord, thank you so much that you went to the cross for us. Thank you that it doesn’t matter what we might look like on the outside that it’s the inside that counts. Jesus, please help us this week to remember not to judge people. That it’s not up to us, it’s up to you. Jesus, help us to remember that you didn’t dress up to die on the cross, that you went just as you are. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Questions for Thought

Do you ever judge people by there appearance?
Have you ever not talked to someone because of what they are wearing?
Do you do “Sunday Best” or do you do “Just as I am?”


By: Meghan Holaday
September 8, 2008