Caps.
I have a lot of them.
In fact, I am in the habit of buying caps that in all likelihood, I will never wear.
For the enthusiasts out there who share my passion, my two favourite styles of caps are Trucker and New Era 39Thirty cap styles.
I have never been a fan of the flat brim or the high top or some of the more ‘gangsta’ looks; but I do like the brims with a little bit of a curl to them. Actually, I can recall in my teen years, spending hours self curling the brims of my caps before a curled brim was able to be purchased in stores. Yep, ahead of my time in the fashion stakes for once!
Anyhow, I buy my caps not to match my outfit, but rather my location.
If I am at the NRL, I have caps for that. Go Storm.
If I am at the AFL, I have many, many caps for that. Go Bombers.
In fact, I normally buy a new Bombers cap each year: you can never have too much of a good thing.
In NFL season out comes my Miami Dolphins caps.
If I am at the MotoGP then it’s time for my Valentino Rossi caps, V8 Supercars and the blue oval of Ford is on my cap loud and proud.
If I am at the motocross then out comes my Yamaha caps and if I am heading bush, outdoors or working at home in the garden, then I have a range of Everett, Sealy and Bennetts caps; which is the name of the pastoral company my brother runs from our home farm in Victoria.
So in most cases, if I’m heading out and about: I have a cap for that!
Matthew 7:15–20 tells us that we know people by their ‘fruit’. Last week I wrote about the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’, the stickers, the details of life. These details are important because they REPRESENT who we are: they are as obvious as a CAP upon our head.
The caps I wear, in the context of where I am, REPRESENT my allegiances, my connections, my support and my identity in that place and at that time.
As Christians, we should not lose sight of the fact that our ‘caps’ are on all the time. The world craves authenticity in relationships, in care, in community and wants to believe, to trust. That’s something we can offer. That’s something in fact our ELCs and schools offer everyday: without fail.
Take time to notice the caps people wear. Notice the branding, the words, the allegiances that they portray. Then let that remind you that our words, our actions, our attitudes and approach to life, is like us wearing a ‘heavenly cap’ identifying us as one of His.
Then consider not just those around you but yourself as well and think through what type of ‘LIFE CAP’ you put on each morning.
Choices.
Caps.
This word of encouragement for Christian educators was written by Dean Bennetts, and distributed in The Bridge newsletter in 2023. Dean is the CEO of Adventist Education in North New South Wales, Australia.
