On uniforms
On uniforms
After a few days away, there are really lots of emails to clear and newspaper to read. Anyway, something which kind of strike a chord in me was the section on "Uniform" - Sunday's ST. Well, of course with the issue of uniform, there is always an endless debate of "Yes, let's have uniforms", or "No uniform please". But what's important in all these issues actually, with regard to uniforms? Probably the issue of how to take pride in wearing your uniform if you are expected to wear it.
Having uniforms actually give a number of advantages:-
1. You don't have to worry about what to wear everyday! Save money on your wardrobe =)
2. There's uniformity which represents an organization - if there's no uniform, nobody knows where on earth you are from or who you represent
3. It teaches you to be careful so as to be a good representative of your organization - a good way to cultivate character and discipline
4. It makes you take pride in where and who you belong to if your organization receives recognition for the good that they did
I know many teenagers who "hated" their school uniforms - I mean, I don't "blame" them as some of the reasons they stated are rather valid too, especially when it concerns the material which just causes them to prespire and "faint". However, I also know of many teenagers who simply do not know how to respect their uniform - a basic representation of their character, actually. I mean, if someone wears a uniform in an appropriate manner, straightaway, it reveals to others what sort of character this person is - indifferent, lacking in discipline, unkempt, etc, etc.
I think you will probably be amused at me (like one of my classmate at theological college was) if I tell you I chose my Alma Mater because of its uniform =) Oh yes, besides being able to qualify for the school, the main reason for choosing it is because of the uniform, and I know many others from the school who shares my sentiments =) Wonder which school that is? The clue is - it has blue top and grey skirt, with a tie that we have to put on everyday. Got it? Smart fellows =) Ya, I can be so "crazy" still about the uniform that I had 2 bears in my Alma Mater's uniform sitting in my office's bookshelf, and I get really upset when I drive past the vicinity of my Alma Mater and see girls wearing their uniform inappropriately!!! =(
Do you know that as Christians, we have a "uniform" too! Some of us wear a cross as our "uniform", some of us pin "Christian" badges on our bags, the ordained ones will have their collars, some of us have "Christian" car de-cals on the windows of our cars, etc. Whatever "uniform" we wear to represent Christ, we have to be careful that we do so with pride, for many others are looking at us to see what our "organization" is like, and if we want to be good ambassadors for the Lord Jesus, may we be careful with the "uniform" we wear and not stumble another that they become drifted further away from the Gospel of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20a "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us."
You and I are wearing the uniform as Christ's ambassador - let's wear it properly and wear it with pride! Just as I got upset when seeing my juniors not wearing their uniforms properly, I'm sure God's heart hurts and grieves even more if He sees us not wearing our Christ's ambassadors' uniform rightly.
After a few days away, there are really lots of emails to clear and newspaper to read. Anyway, something which kind of strike a chord in me was the section on "Uniform" - Sunday's ST. Well, of course with the issue of uniform, there is always an endless debate of "Yes, let's have uniforms", or "No uniform please". But what's important in all these issues actually, with regard to uniforms? Probably the issue of how to take pride in wearing your uniform if you are expected to wear it.
Having uniforms actually give a number of advantages:-
1. You don't have to worry about what to wear everyday! Save money on your wardrobe =)
2. There's uniformity which represents an organization - if there's no uniform, nobody knows where on earth you are from or who you represent
3. It teaches you to be careful so as to be a good representative of your organization - a good way to cultivate character and discipline
4. It makes you take pride in where and who you belong to if your organization receives recognition for the good that they did
I know many teenagers who "hated" their school uniforms - I mean, I don't "blame" them as some of the reasons they stated are rather valid too, especially when it concerns the material which just causes them to prespire and "faint". However, I also know of many teenagers who simply do not know how to respect their uniform - a basic representation of their character, actually. I mean, if someone wears a uniform in an appropriate manner, straightaway, it reveals to others what sort of character this person is - indifferent, lacking in discipline, unkempt, etc, etc.
I think you will probably be amused at me (like one of my classmate at theological college was) if I tell you I chose my Alma Mater because of its uniform =) Oh yes, besides being able to qualify for the school, the main reason for choosing it is because of the uniform, and I know many others from the school who shares my sentiments =) Wonder which school that is? The clue is - it has blue top and grey skirt, with a tie that we have to put on everyday. Got it? Smart fellows =) Ya, I can be so "crazy" still about the uniform that I had 2 bears in my Alma Mater's uniform sitting in my office's bookshelf, and I get really upset when I drive past the vicinity of my Alma Mater and see girls wearing their uniform inappropriately!!! =(
Do you know that as Christians, we have a "uniform" too! Some of us wear a cross as our "uniform", some of us pin "Christian" badges on our bags, the ordained ones will have their collars, some of us have "Christian" car de-cals on the windows of our cars, etc. Whatever "uniform" we wear to represent Christ, we have to be careful that we do so with pride, for many others are looking at us to see what our "organization" is like, and if we want to be good ambassadors for the Lord Jesus, may we be careful with the "uniform" we wear and not stumble another that they become drifted further away from the Gospel of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:18-20a "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us."
You and I are wearing the uniform as Christ's ambassador - let's wear it properly and wear it with pride! Just as I got upset when seeing my juniors not wearing their uniforms properly, I'm sure God's heart hurts and grieves even more if He sees us not wearing our Christ's ambassadors' uniform rightly.
Comments