I know your brain is running around from Native American teepees to the horrible 90s game that the Chinese somehow sold America’s youth on: Pogs and Slammers. Though I could intentionally go on and on about how the Chinese rock us like a KISS concert- WOGs are of a different ilk. WOGs, coincidentally, could even be Chinese, so— eureka! The connection in an attention deficit female’s brain is made. See. Miracles DO happen. (sidenote: WOGs do not usually paint their faces and frequent pleather apparel. But more of that later.)
WOGs are Women Of God. Yes, we could list names like Ruth, Leah, Rachel, Esther, Mary, and more, but it’s never about the name. The name is just a conglomerate of letters. The true weight in a WOG is WHO she is and WHAT she does. Her skills and refined qualities given to her heart by the Lord are made to be a compliment to her counterpart, the MOG. (Man of God—duh.) They sharpen each other. They push weaknesses in one into strengths through the grace of the other. The beauty in this design is too perfect to be made by anything BUT the hand of God. There’s a divine balance. There is brilliance in the apparent continuous conflict between man and woman that is too easily dismissed. It’s purposeful and refining conflict. Find joy in this conflict.
I’ve been on a quest. (Quest is a cool word, isn’t it!?) A journey only a single woman, like myself, would be blessed with the time to undertake. I have been sojourning for a true understanding of biblical womanhood. What is biblical womanhood? What does the Lord say about women specifically? Even further- what is a woman’s role in a dating or courtship process? What are uniquely female gifts? What is a wife in the eyes of the Lord? And the underlying tone throughout my search: where in the world do I, specifically, fit in?
And yes, you are going on the journey with me. So grab your camel back, rain boots, ball of twine, iPhone, wool socks, spandex gear, and baby blanket. We are jumping into the abyss. It may not be pretty. (Camping/searching for treasured answers categorically cannot be pretty— so go ahead and leave your lip-gloss and straightening iron at home.) It may smell bad. (Plug for bringing your favorite Axe body spray/ DO for your BO here.) It may be scary. (See visions of teletubbies encircling you.) But we’re committed— so let’s do the darn thing. [wwwaarrrrrrriiooooorrrrr ssscccrreeeeeaaaammmmmmm].
It starts with tummy control. Yeah, it sounds strange. It also sounds like something maybe a 45 year-old biblical womanhood champ would be rocking. Some may say that it reminds them of a Burka, but that is neither here nor there. The initiation of my sojourning started with the annoying whining of a friend/MOG about women wearing two pieces. Which, (understandably so), caused ole girl (me) to use all weapons in my arsenal in the hopes that my natural six-pack could and would, in fact, see the light of day this summer. (Jokes. It’s an eight-pack.) After a verbal back-and-forth, I hit the Internet in hopes that some further research would substantiate my point of “just get over it.” Unfortunately, the topic of modesty on all Christian blogs/resource sites blew up my laptop like fireworks. I delved in with my eyes—and this time, my heart.
Different writers and pastors talked about modesty of dress, modesty of heart, modesty of appearance, modesty of everything. The more I read, the more naked I felt. (Which was weird, because I was wearing an actual burka at this point. Hard to read a computer screen through mesh, FYI.) I started thinking about my wardrobe—though, arguably leap years better than most, still had a few items I felt worrisome about. What kind of message am I sending? For a woman who tests men by their ability to see past her physicality’s to see her heart, I found it interesting that there may be times I “puff” up said physicality’s—because I want them to fail. Awesome Kami. REAL Christian sweetheart YOU are! Good Heavens. So I’m cleaning out my closet. And I bought a one piece.
I’m sure the feminists of America are crying in deep mourning with this event. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’ve been doing a little mourning of my own. The crux of my decision was found in 1 Corinthians 8. Most specifically, verse 9, which the NLT version states, “But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.” The chapter uses food and drink consumption as an analogy for supporting your brothers and sisters in Christ, even if that means sacrificing things that do not impact you, because they DO impact them. The first point of truth: (1) clearly God meant men in reference to those with a weaker conscience (haha. Sick burnnn.), and (2) the word “stumble.” I don’t want anyone to stumble, to fall, or to fail. I want them to walk upright. So the one-piece (affectionately called “the burka”), was purchased. The one piece makes me look like DJ Tanner— and I plan on swimming the English Channel as soon as I can— sans the tan lines. I’m dealing with it, and if you wanted to, you know, to say “thank you on behalf of the entire male species” as a comment— I wouldn’t hate it.
You could even print off a certificate of appreciation. Just brainstorming.
So I’m on my way, I guess, hoping that things like overalls, tents, and body socks become a smidge more popular in the coming months. But more than that—praying that the standard is universally set. Yes, men, that means your v-neck tee that reveals both nipples is a no-go. It also means that your girl skinny jeans can be left on the emo rack— and your gobs of hair gel, though impressively crispy, is not protecting anyone because it is an obvious and extreme hazard to the eyes. If I’m wearing a one-piece bathing suit and cleaning out my closet to protect your eyes and your walk with the Lord— why don’t the men LEAD by example by guarding their words from piercing our hearts, protecting their relationship with the Lord so that soon they may be courageous enough to pursue a woman (even one that looks like DJ Tanner in a one-piece), and fight for intentionality in praying that the Lord build them into a Man— while we intentionally pray that the Lord build us into Women Of God— loyal and brave like Ruth, fierce and steadfast like Esther, strongly submissive like Mary.
Just a woman, on a quest for biblical womanhood, figuring out along the way that it often looks more like pure strength, beauty measured by the Lord—not by man, and drinking a protein shake every am so that my eight-pack will still exist, though now, concealed under my bullet-proof vest of a bathing suit.
wow, this is highly interesting
ReplyDelete