More on attire in church

I wore sneakers to church today. Not because of disrespect, but because it was necessary. As it has been on occasion.

I walk to church (public transit being of no help on Sundays), and as it’s two miles and my knees and back are rather cranky, walking shoes are necessary. Normally, I would wear a pair that is maybe one step up from sneakers in terms of proper attire (my best pair), but it rained today. Those shoes throw up water, so that before I’ve walked a block on wet sidewalks, I might as well have jumped in a puddle so as to get the foot-soaking over with.

Instead I wore my sneakers, because I had to go to work after church and I really didn’t want wet feet all day.

All the time, I kept wondering, “Who’s going to judge me by what’s on my feet?”

Most of the people in the parish don’t know me—I’ve been a bit shy at meeting and greeting—so they wouldn’t know my circumstances and even if they did, they might not excuse my disrespectful feet (the rest of me was respectful—decent slacks and a nice blouse).

And I had to think back on my previous post, which I know was rather testy.

I was angry. I’m not offering an excuse—the lectionary today held me accountable: “You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.” James 1:19. Instead, I must acknowledge why I reacted to Dear Abby’s writers and (only a little) to comments on Dash’s blog.

I don’t want people to look at only my outward appearance, which is, unfortunately, in keeping with my circumstances. I want people to understand that I can’t, for several reasons, maintain the appearance that would allow them to see me. If that makes sense.

Is it possible for people in different financial situations to look past that in each other (and it goes both directions) to find our connection in Christ?