One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church just before services were to begin. Although the old man and his clothes were spotlessly clean, he wore jeans, a denim shirt and boots that were very worn and ragged. In his hand he carried a worn out old hat and an equally well read Bible. The church he entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church the old cowboy had ever seen. The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and jewelry.
As the cowboy took a seat, the others moved away from him. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed him. They were all appalled by his appearance and did not attempt to hide it.
As the old cowboy was leaving the church, the preacher approached him and asked the cowboy to do him a favor: "Before you come back here again, have a talk with God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship in church."
The old cowboy assured the preacher he would.
The next Sunday, he showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirt, boots, and hat. Once again he was completely shunned and ignored. The preacher approached the cowboy and said, "I thought I asked you to speak to God before you came back to our church."
"I did," replied the old cowboy.
"If you spoke to God, what did he tell you the proper attire should be for worshiping here?" asked the preacher.
"Well, sir, God told me that He didn't have a clue what I should wear. He said . . . . . He'd never been in this church."
Thanks to Doug.
No self-respecting deity would enter such a place. It was generous of the cowboy to give them a second chance.
ReplyDeleteAin't that the truth? About both your thoughts, Paul.
ReplyDeleteYa know, that's a funny story, but I've noticed that most estadoünidense tend to dress like slobs everywhere: church, restaurants, stores, and definitely while traveling. We can always tell which flight is from the U.S. when at the airport in Panamá because all the gringos come out in shorts, t-shirts, and sandals.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm thinking that this story must have taken place a long time ago.
Padre, this estadoünidense is not guilty. When I visit another country, I try to dress like the people in the country and blend in as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI've noticed from the pictures you post on your blog that your congregation dresses very nicely for church.
"Her clothes are old, but never are they dirty--
ReplyDeleteLiving just enough,
Just enough for the city." [S Wonder]
Seriously: I still have a "Blue Jeans Test" when I'm parish-shopping (in a big city, obviously). If I don't feel comfortable in (clean!) blue jeans, I move on...
[I could name parishes (in Portland OR, and Manhattan) that have failed . . . but I won't. ;-/]
most estadoünidense tend to dress like slobs everywhere
ReplyDeleteLeaving aside the (pejorative) characterization "slobs", this is ONE (US of) American practice I'm GLAD to export (Unless the phrase "whited sepulchre" no longer has any Christian meaning!)
Here in Panama it is normal to wear shorts and a t-shirt at home, but if one is going out of the house, even to the supermercado, a man will put on long pants and a shirt with a collar and women will don either a dress or nice pants and blouse. You can always tell the gringos as they're wandering about inappropriately dressed. I found that I've adopted this practice, and even when I'm in los estados unidos I can't go to the store or away from the house in shorts and t-shirt.
ReplyDeleteI agree that God cares about what is in our hearts and not what we're wearing, but it doesn't hurt to dress nicely.
I found that I've adopted this practice, and even when I'm in los estados unidos I can't go to the store or away from the house in shorts and t-shirt.
ReplyDeleteYou'll soon get over that, Padre. ;-)