Faith And Fashion Pt. 5

View the previous post here: ​http://www.bethesymbol.com/blog/faith-and-fashion-pt-4

You know I love fashion . . . And at times I have learned especially recently how easily it can be a worldly attachment.  I have also recognized how it can also be a cover up for a lack of true confidence and self-esteem or a based upon a need to fit in.  It is what led me to the creation of the song "But I'm Fresh Tho" ... The term itself is used in arguments in my neighborhoods as a way to discredit someone else when being criticized or "dissed". For example if someone is to point out something that is a flaw about you and you don't have any response in order to dismiss their statement you may respond with "But I'm Fresh Tho".

If you follow from the very beginning when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden the first thing they did was to "cover themselves". I find it funny that this was an immediate reaction to "their eyes being opened".  Some may interpret it as "bad", but looked at from another angle it may be an action of God in them to begin to repair for their sin..... Let me explain.

Founder of the Idente Missionaries, Fernando Rielo once stated "Heaven is what poets recreate, and what Saints live out."  And he also told the missionaries "You're only penance is to create poetry." For Fernando, poetry is not simply the working of words(although he himself was literally a poet); but even more so poetry is beauty, aesthetics, and art.... So in translation these 2 quotes say that (true) artists give us little insights into Heaven, but it is the Saints who live their lives as "art".  And furthermore, in our sin and in our shortcomings, the only way we can truly show our repentance, conversion, change of heart, and to make up for the ugliness we have brought into the world we must make a conscious effort to bring more beauty into it.  Ironically in John's Gospel (known for it's poetic style of writing) during Jesus' passion where he redeems or "makes up" for our sins the writer makes it a point to let people know about Jesus' "seamless robe" and how much the soldiers wanted this article of clothing.

We are all sinners.... Fashion may just be one way (if intentional) to begin a process of repairing the effects of our sin in this world.

Father, please accept each offering and effort of my brothers, sisters, and I to bring true art and beauty into this world.  Somehow, may it repair the ugliness of the stains of original sin, and each personal sin we commit.  I ask this united to the blood shed for us on the cross

- The Symbol
- All is Love