There are so
many types of hats to choose from. Whatever your mood, there is a hat to suit
it; whatever your activity, there is a hat to represent it. There are hats that
we wear to sporting events as we root for our favorite team; hats that are worn as a piece of our work uniform
making everyone aware of our official role or position; party hats with a
pointy top and an elastic band that fits under our chin (usually accompanied by
a roll-up paper party blower). Hats can evoke feelings of respect, loyalty, belonging,
frivolity, fun and celebration.
This past
Christmas season I had the pleasure of being a participant in a group declared
“Hat Night”. The little group was comprised of my Mom, my sister and me. We
were going out for a night on the town (accompanied by my sister’s wonderful
fiancé). As we were in the planning stages for the evening we decided it would
be fun and celebratory to wear hats for the occasion; the celebration was as
simple as we were all together. We aren’t talking baseball hats, but instead
lady-like hats especially for the festive evening. My Mom and sister each wore
a wide brimmed, slightly floppy hat and I wore an old-fashioned 20’s style, bubble
one. After we had finally settled on the outfits to complement our hats we had
a little photo session in the family room, in front of the Christmas tree
(again, my sister’s fiancé was very helpful as he patiently clicked away, as we
posed this way and that).
Our hats
graced our heads as we entered the grande Hotel Del Coronado. We paused in the
lobby for a while and enjoyed the lovely voices of the quaint Victorian
carolers, with the Christmas tree glittering in the background. It momentarily
transported us back to a different era. From there our hats sat atop our heads
as we wandered around the lobby admiring the tree and the old décor, and as we
ventured into the hotel gift store. So many delightful baubles and gifts and decorations
to behold.
Next, we
continued on to the hotel lounge to enjoy some of my favorite kind of music; a
very talented man strummed his acoustic guitar as he sang along perfectly in
tune. He did perfect renditions of many of our favorite songs. We talked
and laughed; we quietly listened and took in the music; we clapped and sang
along; we even shed a tear or two when he played our special requests. Through
it all we proudly wore our hats. Funny enough, we had people approach us
through the night and even come up to our table to comment on our hats. They
would ask us what the special occasion was. We just replied that is was our
“Hat Night”. I guess not too many people
have Hat Nights (except the ladies who wear purple clothes and red hats). Our
hats made us unique that evening; I guess they represented that we were a part
of a special group; that there was something to celebrate; and that we weren’t
afraid to show it.
It’s kind of
like the special hat that God gives us to wear- “the Helmet of Salvation”, as
the Bible refers to it. This helmet (hat) represents our place of belonging to
a really special group (God’s very own family), it definitely means there is
something to celebrate (we get to be with Him forever), and it means that we
aren’t afraid to show it (we wear the helmet of salvation with great pride and
joy).
1 Thessalonian 5:8-10, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as
a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but
for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that
whether we are awake or asleep, we
will live together with Him.