I have no idea of when I bought what I’m currently wearing, but I can tell you what the oldest wearable items in my possession are 😀. Way back in the mid 1970s, like most teenagers, I yearned to be cool. I didn’t have much money.
Somehow or other, I managed to be able to purchase a Wrangler denim jacket. I was from a nice family, and these tended to be worn by the rougher kids. And the rougher kids didn’t always appreciate “softies” wearing items of their uniform. I suppose I was a little like Bart Simpson. I wasn’t a bully like Nelson, but neither did I want to be put in the category of Ralph, Martin, or the Flanders kids. Anyway, I did get away with wearing it for a few years without getting beaten up 😀. Then I grew out of it, but I couldn’t bring myself to part with it. So, I still have it! Music loomed very large in my life back then, as it does now. I bought my first Beatles record in 1974. I was peeved that I was born too late to notice them before they split up. As a young child I knew about The Monkees. I suppose I knew about Yellow Submarine but little else. My dad mentioned the Beatles to me, but I liked monkeys more than I liked beetles, so I disregarded his recommendation. Then, in 1974, I discovered them, and most of the songs on the Red Album were somewhat familiar to me. Then I got into Pink Floyd and other prog album bands and eventually punk and new wave. So, when I look at my jacket, it brings it all back.
Then, in 1980, I committed my life to Christ. I used to hang out a bit in the Christian bookshop in Tuckey Street, Cork. Generally, on Fridays, I’d buy books and other paraphernalia. One of these was my Jesus Saves enamel teal pin badge. Unlike the Wrangler jacket, it wasn’t at all cool. It’s strange because people are happy to wear crosses, which symbolize the saving work of Christ. Maybe people associate “Jesus Saves” and such terms with cowboy films, where you might get an eccentric and dodgy preacher saying things like “Praise the Lord”, “Hallelujah”, and “Jesus Saves”. Or maybe people think of some of the “Jesus people” or “Jesus freaks” of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Anyway, I was happy to wear it. Maybe I should start wearing it again. I quickly grew out of my Wrangler jacket. Let’s hope that I never grow out of being a Christian.
In 1980, I was very inspired by how Bob Dylan proclaimed his faith so boldly. I’ll never have such influence, but in my own small way, I can declare my allegiance to Christ.
Luke 12:8-9
8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. 9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.
Hibernia Gospel 