My whole life I have hated wearing ties. Well maybe not all of it, in
school on game days we wore ties and sport coats, but that went away with
graduation. I have always felt more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt, but
many times in my career found myself wearing a tie. In sales we were taught to
dress one step above your audience, what is one step above a grease covered
mechanic? Or an overpriced celebrity wife in her expensive running suit? But
it seemed as I rose up the ladder to financial success, the mode of dress was to
reflect it. Even at company functions, dress up. Seriously, who looks more out
of place in a suit and tie than a young mechanic, with grease still under his
fingernails? Constantly loosening his collar...so I state my case. With
possible exceptions to dress codes, at Mercedes Benz we were allowed to go tie
less in the summer, which I extended well into the winter months, of which I was
daily reminded, but the discipline was worth the comfort. At Land Rover we all
wore the trademark polo shirts in various colors, not a tie to be found. But in
my first California job selling, I made the mistake of winning some awards, and
was expected to wear a suit, first mistake, and a tie, I’m outta here. Or at
least I tried....
I was well known for my lack of wearing a tie, and I had made it plain at
the awards banquet I would be tie less. No tie downs for me, I was going to
celebrate, and every time I saw the National Sales Manager he reminded me of the
dress code, which I ignored. It went from telling, to requesting, to asking, to
begging, to finally, just a few minutes for me? And him carrying around an
extra tie in his brief case for me, just in case. In my persistence I was
wearing him down, and he held his breath when I walked into the room that
night. Would I be tie less, or tied down? He had neglected the power and
influence of my wife, and when I showed up in a tie, he took all the credit for
my tie all night. Even giving me a nickname in the company “Mike who won’t wear
a tie,” I had succumbed to a dress code. Today I have one collared shirt, no
ties, and one pair of non-blue jeans. Just in case I win an award
again.....with a supply of t-shirts for all occasions. I mean,who wears a car
shirt to a motorcycle event? Or a Harley shirt to a Honda show? But my shirts
are a story of where I have been, what I have ridden, and what I have eaten.
Some stains from some meals are permanently embossed, no that wasn’t lunch, that
was dinner, in Santa Fe. We all should be as comfortable, and dressing in
layers as all good bikers do, now my sweatshirt, no hoodies please, is expanding
with my t-shirts. And no tie down after effects...
There was a time when Christian t-shirts were in my wardrobe, until it was
pointed out to me “do you need to wear a shirt to tell the world you are a
Christian?” I tell a pastor friend his Jesus shirt is sure to get him a seat
alone on the bus, but he doesn’t get it. And now not wearing Christian colors
any more, can blend in better with those who need to hear the gospel, and don’t
have an agenda of being preached at, or an argument won showing how superior
they are. It seems when I wore a Christian shirt it was to impress my
Christian friends, who thought it was cool, I’m over that, just as you may think
it’s cool to wear a Triumph or Harley shirt. I just like certain shirts, with a
few Indian and Honda shirts now being worn daily. And I ask myself, could you
see Jesus in a t-shirt, and if he did, what would it say? Your answer may
surprise you.....
The night Jesus was arrested in the Garden, Judas had to greet him with a
kiss as preplanned to identify him. No outstanding characteristics, no special
dress code, he fit in with the crowd, and was a part of it. He could have
dressed upscale like the Pharisees, or drawn attention to himself, but he
didn’t. But somehow in all things he always gave his Father in heaven the
credit. An example I have been trying to emulate for years, with limited
success. After being in the spotlight on occasions, God showed me how I got
more done and was more effective if I just sat in the back and let him be God.
Seems he doesn’t need a PR man or team, he does need servants. Ambassadors who
he can shine his light through. So when it became less about me, or the shirts,
I fit in better. How many bikers would listen to a three piece suit witnessing
to them? A joke I pulled on Oceanside Mayor Jim Woods on two Torches Across
America starts. His first time in a suit, I reminded him, “Jim, when this crowd
sees a man in a suit addressing them, it reminds them of the man in court
prosecuting them.” Jim got it, for the next year, he showed up, announcing
“look Mike, no suit!” bragging on his Hawaiian shirt. Jim got it, and my vote,
if I lived in his town.
Tie downs can show up when least expected, when we care more about us than
the person we are meeting, it shows. Best put as “when they know how much you
care, it won’t matter how much you know.” Or what you wear, only how you
love. Jesus stood out in a crowd by who he was, love doesn’t demand its own
way, we do. So common that Judas had to point him out, but the love of Christ
won out in the end. Naked on the cross.....so heed the warning in scripture
about putting the well dressed man in a better seat. Or giving him the
preeminence. You may be putting your pride before Jesus, and you wouldn’t want
to miss out. We look at the outer man, God looks at the inner man. No tie
downs, only a rejoicing of knowing the right t-shirt for the occasion. And
being able to pick Jesus out of a crowd. How would he find you? What message
are you sending?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com