Since getting some birthday money, I've been doing a bit of clothes shopping. I've done enough thrifting over the winter to last me a while, and I wanted some things that were new. New colors, fit, styles, whatever is a bit more "in" than what I've dug up at the thrift store. Summer always makes me feel ready for a fresh start and something new.
I haven't been shopping for brand new clothes in a while, and I was really struck by how much things have changed in such a short time. I realized that the goal of the clothing industry in America (don't know enough about other countries to know if it's the same), to make you have to change everything in your wardrobe every few years. That everything in your closet will be "wrong." They have changed the fit, the styling, the colors, the shape, the color combinations, the accessoriess. Every characteristic of every garment has completely changed in just a year or two.
Flare jeans and boot cut jeans replaced by skinny jeans. Long pants replaced by crop pants. Capris replaced by bermudas. Fitted shirts replaced by baggy shirts. Hip-length shirts replaced by tunics or crop shirts. Low cut replaced by high cut. Of course the color palette has changed completely, and we've moved from bright (last year's royal blue, kelly green, lemon yellow), to neon everything. Coral is still around, and we've added sea foam green. You couldn't find something brown if your life depended on it (okay, perhaps brown shorts in the men's department, and perhaps your standard khakis). But grey has completely replaced brown. Black is around, but usually in combination with white. Wedge shoes replaced by flats (okay, I'm still seeing wedges too).
So you can hardly buy yourself a new shirt without needing a different style and color of pants and shoes to go with it.
Then I have to still match the baby. So he needs new clothes too. (Maybe for his birthday.)
It reminded me how much our culture focuses on things that are temporal. Quick to consume; quick to discard.
I love the song "Everlasting God" by New Life Worship...."One thing I know that I have found, through every trouble that surrounds, You are the rock that never fails, You never fail....One thing I know that I believe, through every blessing I receive, You are the only One that stays, You always stay....
You never change, You're still the same, You are the Everlasting God
You will remain, after the day has gone, and the things of earth have passed, Everlasting God
How quickly the things of earth have (and will) pass. What a comfort to know that our God stays the same. Life is shaky sometimes. Other times, downright torrential. We need something to hang onto in those times. Someone that always stays, that never fails. Hold on. To the torrent around me, and the torrent around anyone reading, hold on to the Everlasting God. Seek Him out. He is the only thing solid in this life. How desperately I need Him.
