WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO?
image courtesy of photobucket.com
“Nice shirt,” she said with sarcasm in her voice, “You’re really gonna wear that today after we got you all those new ones?” “They don’t fit good,” I replied, “maybe you could try to shrink the grey one again?” “If I do the neck will be too tight,” she reasoned.” “I can clip the collar then,” I answered. My wife didn’t respond… she doesn’t like it when I play tailor on my own clothes… especially when I use my knife.
She just shook her head. Of course, she remembers things better than I do… like my doctor’s appointment that day. Funny, I don’t remember that many holes in that sweatshirt, not sure how they got there? I have to say, though, the spacious collar area; tailored by my switchblade, (legal in Arizona people!), is quite comfy.
Maybe I’m just getting old… I don’t seem to care too much… As young men, it didn’t matter to anyone what we looked like at work. There wasn’t anyone there to impress with wardrobe or style. Those were the days that actions did the speaking for people… fewer words then.
My dad, a blue-collar man, wore threadbare shirts to work often and he wore his work boots until they disintegrated while I was worrying about scuffs on my white Nike tennis shoes… Even after my dad had success in business, he never let his attitude and perspective change.
I wasn’t always like this, sometimes I’m not now. When I have particular meetings, dinner, or church, I have nice clothes to wear, thanks to my wife, but if not those type of events, I head back to my roots. Admittedly, not even my dad wore clothes as bad as mine.
With a closet full of new clothes, why would a person choose to wear the ones with holes? I’m not sure really… Maybe it’s a subconscious tribute to my dad? Maybe it’s me subconsciously provoking the world to judge me? Maybe I’m struggling with a bigger than it should be pride issue that I’m trying to control? Maybe it’s just for the comfort? … Or maybe a little of all of them.
My guess is that we all struggle with things, even seemingly insignificant things that really do say a lot about who we are and our perspective about this world. We all have something, some weakness, some quirk or quirks that read like the big “E” on the eye chart, but may not be so easily defined…
Maybe we all have some inborn independence we enjoy exercising? Maybe you’d like to share one of your quirks? And maybe give some insight as to the why and hows of your little quirk?
Sitting in eye doctor’s waiting room, I noticed something else… My socks didn’t match… While my clothes are all about comfort and a few holes is acceptable, I still have some of the quirkiness about shoes and socks I had as a kid. Patent leather is the preferred material on my tennis shoes… I told you I had quirks…
I wish I could blame the sock mix up on getting dressed in the dark… If I can’t see that, I’m in big trouble in seeing the source of my other quirks…why do we do what we do?
Tuesday, September 4, 2012 @ 8:57 pm
Man can I ever relate to the tattered garments! Your right there’s more than one reason why and I know exactly why! Ha ha! Good one again Floyd
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 9:31 am
Thanks Diane… You know it might not be fair… you have way to much wisdom and insight to this matter!!!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012 @ 11:19 pm
My husband always says he is “fashion blind” One pair of sweat pants are threadbare, but he loves them. I must admit, I have certain cutoffs that I tend to end up in because they are tried and true, comfortable and just plain easy-to-wear! A few old nightgowns and robes fall into this category too.
I think it’s because there is no thinking involved. Sometimes just doing what is easy and familiar is where we head. Maybe that is why Paul taught people to “put on Christ” and “put off” the old nature. It’s so easy to slink back into bad habits. I guess God feels the effort it takes to renew our minds will be well worth the trouble!
And yes, socks HAVE to match…. I am still not sure about why I managed to get out of the house one day with two different red shoes. (Sigh)
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 9:34 am
Too funny! I feel a little bit better now! Good point Nancy, we do what feels the most comfortable. We tend to try to hang onto the things we know are tried and true. Please tell me the shoes had the same heel height?!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 2:27 am
I go for comfort. At home I wear a pair of fleece shorts. At work I usually wear jeans, although I choose not to wear them if they have holes. On Sunday I wear khakis. I despise ties and suits. In life, I can’t see the big “E.” I sometimes have trouble seeing danger in my everyday actions.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 9:36 am
You got me there Bill. I guess I too have trouble seeing danger in my everyday actions… It’s tough to measure the heart isn’t it? It could be one of the hardest things in this flesh… Great observation.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 5:13 am
I have to admit that I like my holey jeans and ragged tshirts the best…but I do have a 300 dollar suit (given to me) that I do enjoy wearing…makes me feel grown up!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 9:37 am
I’m with you Jay… We’re extremists maybe? If I’m going for comfort, I’m going all in! But when it comes to dressing nice, I enjoy going all out to… You know, I’m feeling a little better about myself now!!! Thanks Jay!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 10:28 am
You sound just like my husband. He’s been known to use a knife to “tailor” his clothes as well. š Now that my youngest is out of the house, I don’t know who will take over as his fashion guru–certainly not me because I’m not any better at dressing than he is. Oh well. With our eyesight failing, we won’t notice each other’s clothes so much anyway. It’s only when we go out in public that we’ll be in trouble. š
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 11:44 am
Good point Lisa. Although my guess is that in a few years we may not even care so much even in public!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 1:00 pm
Your dad reminds me of mine. He owned his own business. When times got hard he would pawn his own stuff (my moms wedding ring included) to make sure his employees got paid.
I remember duct tape holding his work boots together, holes in all his shirts and grease/paint stains on his jeans.
Things weren’t always that tough, and while he did buy new clothes, he wouldn’t throw the old away until he got every ounce of use. Besides, there was always someone who needed more than he did, he was guilty of giving his last dollar to a stranger.
He was a great example of humble living and generosity.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 9:08 pm
How awesome you and I have it… How many others can say they were raised by a real man… The man who would give all he had because he knew God would provide for him… I’m touched… I remember the same things of my dad… I was paying attention and needed to be reminded of how amazingly strong he made those men… How I long to be those men… Words can’t express my heart friend… Thanks…
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 1:41 pm
But Floyd I ask you, what if you get in an accident? Surely your mom used that one on you!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 9:10 pm
Too funny! How could you even think of that?… !!! I like the way your mind works… or at least I can identify with it!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 5:43 pm
It is difficult for me to get rid of old clothing. Old is comfortable and broke in. They don’t make new clothes like the old ones. I remember an old red sweater that had a hole in it. It was my favorite and I loved it – hole and all. One day they had a missions barrel and I hesitated about giving up my favorite sweater. In it went as I loveingly gave it up. My mother was standing there and pulled my sweater out. Hazel, you can’t give this to the missionaries, as it has a hole in it. To me that holey sweater was beautiful, but Mom shocked me into realizing what was precious to me, would not be the same to someone else.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 9:12 pm
How I appreciate the heart God born you with… You are one of a kind Hazel! With all the truth of who we are, you show us that in the flesh we can still honor our Father… Only you Hazel… only you…
Wednesday, September 5, 2012 @ 9:25 pm
I’m a complete opposite, I have to match and always try and have nice looking clothes on. I think your statement,”Even after my dad had success in business, he never let his attitude and perspective change.” This is huge! Success has the potential to change someone, for good or bad, so staying true to our self when success comes is essential.
Thursday, September 6, 2012 @ 4:24 pm
Thanks Dan. Yeah, my dad was a great example in most ways including that one. I noticed you did look pretty well dressed when we met over the summer, I guess I should try to wear something other than gym clothes next time… but I can’t make any promises!
Thursday, September 6, 2012 @ 7:31 pm
The next time we meet let’s agree on wearing gym clothes:) I also like wearing gym clothes. They are so comfortable.
Thursday, September 6, 2012 @ 7:59 pm
Deal!
Thursday, September 6, 2012 @ 3:59 pm
I remember when I was still in grade school I used to look forward to the day when I would start working as a graphic designer and always wearing a super sweet 3 piece suit to work. Looking back now I have to laugh, because you rarely see that going on today. Anyways, I’ve tried the suit on and thinking about it…I look ridicuous in it. Haha!
Thursday, September 6, 2012 @ 4:26 pm
Isn’t it funny the images we had for ourselves as kids? That’s such an interesting subject… You’ve given me something to think about Ed!
I’ll bet you actually look pretty good in that 3 piece…
Thursday, September 6, 2012 @ 10:52 pm
I did…but I had hair on my head back then, lol.
Friday, September 7, 2012 @ 4:56 pm
Ed, you don’t need hair! Look at Jack Nicholson? See? It’s a style all unto itself my friend!
Thursday, September 6, 2012 @ 9:07 pm
I definitely go with comfort over fashion. And.. I have a tendency to do the opposite of whatever the fashion police prescribe. All through high school and college I wore intentionally mismatched socks. I had a college professor who would routinely stop class and ask me what color my socks were since he new they would be something crazy (never white). Now I prefer to wear only sandals, but there are the obvious exceptions to that. š
Friday, September 7, 2012 @ 4:54 pm
You’re my kind of guy Chuck! When the crowd’s going that way we go this way… What is it that makes us do that??? I seriously respect the independence. Thanks Chuck.
Saturday, September 8, 2012 @ 12:22 am
Floyd,I like the part that says,
“Maybe we all have some inborn independence we enjoy exercising?” And of course, the quirks too.
I was a conformist in my youth days but not to supersede comfort. I admire people who are so independent from the opinions of others. They may look like rebels but there is a degree of strength in being so. In fact, I think more.
It is usually seen in smart people. I have some experience with this. Students in our only National (government subsidized) do and wear their style and it become a tag on them. Like how they run the “oblation run,” year after year with only their faces clothed. They like to portray the freedom which the statue in front of this university promotes. In addition, they love wearing mismatched pairs in broad daylight-as in on purpose.
Anyway, when there is quirk, there is variety and uniqueness.
Saturday, September 8, 2012 @ 12:14 pm
Great point Lolita. We are indeed unique and we should embrace the way God made us. Thanks.
Saturday, September 8, 2012 @ 6:48 am
“Maybe Iām just getting old.”. I ‘d say ‘welcome to the club’ but I don’t think you are there yet! Take that Nike picture here. Do you remember those? I still have a pair in my closet. Got them free for running so many miles in a month at Camp Pendleton. Was disappointed; had never heard of Nike, was expecting Puma or Adidas.
http://textsincontext.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/teaching-children-the-ten-commandments/
Saturday, September 8, 2012 @ 12:35 pm
I do remember those, those were the shoes I wore in high school. They’re called the “Leather Cortez.” When I first saw Nike’s our basketball coach had a pair, we all wore the canvas converse… My how times have changed…
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 @ 10:40 am
Floyd. You have to wear the holy clothes. It is so you! It would be weird to see anything else;)
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 @ 10:44 am
Sold! Sounds good to me! Funny, I’ve known you so long and it’s all you’ve ever seen… I’m not sure if that’s good or bad??? Good to hear from you girl…