After months of writer’s block that was more mental block for me,  new thoughts have once again come forth.  Two enjoyable and insightful children’s movies and a sermon sent my mind back to work. It also helped that I began working on my mental health through a  wonderful Christian counselor. These things combined to lead me to The Suits We Wear.   

The formal business suit is not one I ever had to wear.  It reminds me of my daily focus for the job. In my various career choices – office clerk, children’s minister, and educator – presenting the proper tone was (and is) important to me.  That tone is sometimes present in my clothing choices, but mostly in the way I present myself through my actions and words.  Each of these career choices requires contact with others daily.  This means keeping my personal feelings hidden whenever possible. But personal feelings always slip into our tone.  They too are part of my daily “suit.” 

A large portion of my life involved the bunny suit and Santa suit.  I have never worn either of those suits, but as a parent, the suits were present in my mind as I worked to please my kids with surprises or gifts.  They were present in my mind as I planned trips that included something to make everyone happy.  The suits were present while driving our four kids to school events, extra-curricular activities, medical appointments and church.  I was like the bunny hopping from place to place or like Santa rushing to get there on time! They were part of my daily suit. 

The diving suit is the suit in my current phase of life.  I am working hard at diving daily into HIS word, as I also dive into my own mental health concerns.  It is painful at times to dive deep to see why certain things “push my buttons”, but that is what my counselor and I are focused on.  It helps when she directs me to biblical teachings which I have been diving into on my own. The reminder from that recent sermon that David couldn’t slay Goliath with King Saul’s armor as protection was spot on for me.  It reminds me to put on the armor of God as I strive to improve my daily relationship with HIM.    

In this extreme southern summer heat, I am thankful I don’t literally wear any of these suits, but I am thankful of the focus they have given me.  I pray that they will continue to keep me focused on HIM and his direction for my life.  I look forward to the years when retirement arrives and I begin yet another phase of life.  I wonder what type of suit should represent that phase? What type of suit represents your current phase in life? 

 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against  the wiles of the devil.              Ephesians 6:10 NRSV