So what sort of clothing might befit such an high school varsity jackets exalted occasion? Observers in the gallery of the United States Supreme Court are forbidden to wear hats. Out of respect for the importance of what's taking place there, the Court's firm rule for visitors is, "Inappropriate clothing may not be worn." If this is so for a merely human institution, what might be suitable attire for God-honoring worship?
Another trend at the moment is a type of Australian-made boot. They've gotten increasingly popular here in Italy since I've arrived. They're called Blundstones, and my friend Ursi from Australia tells me they're very typical back home and people call them "Blunnies" for short. These shoes come up just past the ankle. They're laceless, normally black or brown, and have a colored section of elastic on each side. I'm not particularly sold on the way they cheap letterman jackets look yet, but they must be incredibly cozy or durable because everyone is wearing them.
Finally, there's the winter wear. Puffy jackets are everywhere in every variation. Long puffy jackets, short puffy jackets, and jackets across the whole color spectrum. Then, almost all coats that aren't puffy seem to have fake fur around the hoods.
Guys and girls all wear scarves every day. Sometimes they're just for warmth and are removed along with the coat once inside, but often they stay letterman jackets for girls forever 21 on as an essential part of the outfit.
Chandler West is a Rock Hill High student who is spending her senior year in Italy.
She writes about her adventures abroad each week in The Herald.
Readers will be relieved that I have no dress code to propose. Yet the Scriptures do suggest a few pointers. And each of them is concerned, ultimately, with the heart.
The first is derived from God's instructions regarding holiness. The core idea of holiness in both the Old and New Testaments is "set-apartness." Whether it be food, days, vestments, utensils, places, offerings, or God's people themselves, to be holy is to be peculiar, dedicated to the Lord. To sanctify something is to set it apart as special for God. The "unholy" is thus not only what is profane but also what is ordinary or "common." God is holy and he desires his people to be holy. Everything we offer him is to be marked by its holiness. He expects us to demonstrate in every aspect of our relationship to him the special regard he deserves.
