I JUST DON'T GET IT

why young professional women wear black bras under cream or white blouses that can be even a bit sheer.
   The young M pastor wore exactly that at Staff meeting on Tuesday. She is professional and a joy, but honestly, not only did seeing her dark bra not look nice, it distracted or even made obvious what
most of us clergywoman try to make less obvious, so the focus is on what we bring to the table and not necessarily our sexuality.
   Perhaps, I'm an old fuddy-duddy, but as a professional, I seek to turn attention to other things, and look polished. That includes wearing black bras under black clergy shirts and dark colored clothing, and nude, beige bras under light colored clothing so it doesn't stick out or detract from what I am doing and am about. I simply don't believe that I am the only one out there that believes and practices this.
   It looks a little slutty, in my book. As a professional, you want less attention there and more on what your are sharing and contributing.
   I am also taken aback at some what some news anchors, weather gals, and reporters wear. Some of the dresses are fine for cocktails after work, but not for broadcasting the news. Keyhole openings on women's bodices, or that strip of cloth around the neck and than open over the chest - really? How slutty is that?
Wear that on your own time and look polished and professional.
    Sometimes I think the news women need to have a clothing coach. Not that they should dress frumpy or only dark colors, but you can cover up, make sure the dress is just above the knee and not halfway up your thigh, or look like a dominmatrix with cut outs all over your bodice! Honestly.
    So, I hope we clergy women can set an example of professional in our dress. And ladies, please,
no dark bras under light blouses or shirts that can be noticed by all the world. We all know that we are women, strong, knowledgeable, professional, we don't have to display or draw unnecessary attention to what we are physically, hook that attention on what you bring and offer to the table.

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW...

who you'll run into on your day off!
   So, I got up this morning to a beautiful sunny day with temps about 67 degrees. It's up to about 73 now. I put on my flamingo really deep pink crop pants from Talbots outlet store that fit like a dream with side elastic insets, and a tri pink, orange chevron print crinkle cotton shirt and my Skechers stretchy bands with hot pink, lime green, blue, black and yellow space dyed sandals. Cool enough today to wear the crop pants.
   Then I headed out to run my errands - bank, Dollar Store and W-Mart. It goes without saying that I was one of the best dressed people in W-Mart!
    If there was one thing I learned by watching What Not to Wear, it was not to go out wearing your sweatsuit! Many things I already knew, but often on my day off, I would venture out a bit more in leisurely wear. I still dress casual - jeans and a shirt, etc. But, ditched the fleece or knit pants ages ago.
   Since serving the church here in the town where I live, it's even more important to dress nice casual because you never know who you'll run into at a store. This morning, I ran into a parishioner and flest good about being color coordinated (which I am anyway) and nicely dressed. I've run into parishioners before, sometimes over the lunch hour or right after work when dressed for work. But when it's your day off and you just want to be comfortable, it pays to dress nicely anyway.
   I save my favorite Duluth stretch grey crops for being around the house and working in the garden. I wear my stretchy pants and sloppy shirts at home in the evenings when I just relax and lounge around, or quick run to the recycling bins where I'm not apt to meet anyone.
   I also brought my own bags into W-Mart which hopefully folks notice and remind them to use reusable bags instead of the plastic single-use bags.
   No, I'm not tooting my own horn, but just observing that one can be an example to others and still be professional in a casual way, without wearing flannel or stretchy skin-tight leggings to the store
and embarrass our profession as clergy women. Maybe, black leggings if you are skinny enough!
   So, I felt good today wearing a favorite outfit and knowing that being seen by others would
not be an embarrassment! Because you just never know who you'll  run into.
 

BUSY SERVING...I GUESS

I look over the REVGALS blogging community and see so many inactive blogs. I guess we are so busy serving, raising families, etc. it is hard to find the time to really write. I also fall into that.
   LH has been in the ER twice now with Afib. We are working with the cardiologist and praying his heart will stay in rhythm. Lost a whole night's sleep over a weekend, not fun to be dragging and having both Sat. evening worship and Sun. morning worship. He can't help it really. It just happens out of the blue for no real reason. It comes and goes. The docs have changed medicines.
   The L church is looking to celebrate their 100th anniversary of the church building this Sept. Still thinking about a sermon and newsletter article. I don't want them to be the same!
   The M church has their new pastor. She is young, a mom with two young children and dealing with
discerning where that church is and wants to go and whether they should leave the UMC or not over the UMC decision not to allow LGTB clergy or same sex marriages, etc. It is not for the faint of heart to be a UMC clergy at the moment. The progressives are contemplating leaving the denomination while the conservatives will stay put.
   In the other denominations, it was the other way around. The progressives stayed and the conservatives left.
   It's messy any way. I pray for the day we can learn to live together and honor one another no matter which way we are bent. That it can be a both/and and not merely an either/or.
   Life is too short and time too precious to waste energy, time and money on fighting one another. Let's just get on with our call from Christ - to love and serve one another.
   Must stop now. Call received from cardiologist and LH admitted to CCU once again. Prayers are welcome and appreciated.