Wednesday’s Musings: Trashing the Dress. Really?

Luke 3:11 (NIRV) John answered, “If you have extra clothes, you should share with those who have none. And if you have extra food, you should do the same.”

The morning news showed us photos of a bride running into the ocean with her wedding dress on fire.  This was done on purpose for her wedding photo shoot.  Apparently there’s a new trend among brides to “trash the dress” after the wedding. Some have paint thrown on them; others walk through mud while others jump into water. Everyone agreed the fire stunt had gone way too far.  Last year a bride died when she jumped in water near a waterfall and her veil got caught and carried her downstream.  I agree with the commentators who said if the brides didn’t want to save the dresses for their daughters why not sell or donate them to charity.  Considering the prices of wedding dresses this act of deliberate destruction is in my opinion the height of self-indulgence.  I used a modern translation here because it most captures what John was getting out.  Older translations use the word “cloak” or “coat.” The point is that we should share of our excess with the needy.  What do you have in your home that you aren’t using?  How could you help someone else by donating it or selling it and giving the proceeds to charity? 

Holy God, please open our eyes to our selfishness. We confess that we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves nor have we helped the least, the last and the lost, by sharing some of the abundant blessings bestowed upon us. Amen.

Happy Wednesday,
Paige