50/50

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Paris_Blues

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I’m battling with love of fashion/God.

Let me explain: I used to be a fashion freak (and still am) and love to go clothes shopping and also like to look at new fashion too whether in magazines, etc.

However, for the past 5 months or so, the love for fashion grew dimmer and dimmer and the love for God grew stronger and stronger.

I was cleaning my apartment a little yesterday and unfortunetely came across the Elle magazines I used to get and before I even realized what I was doing, I started flipping through them and the love for fashion grew again. I could sense the Holy Spirit whispering in my heart, “Put that magazine down and love Me! Fashion wont bring you happiness but I can”😃 I prayed, “Lord, I’m sorry.”

I did put the magazines down but they’re still on my couch and coffee table. Last night I was flipping through a Paris, France book looking at fashion (I should never go there because I know they are huge on fashion) and the Holy Spirit dwelled in my heart again and I sighed out loud and thought, okay, it’s either you love fashion or love God. Now even though that love for fashion grew again, my love for God didn’t decrease thank goodness. However, I really do deep down desire to love God above all else and I hope He can take my love for fashion away from me.

As I was getting ready for beddy-by last night, I knew I had this: 50/50.

Is it possible to love both God and fashion at the same time? It must be because I’m experiencing it.

Any suggestions?
 
Hi Paris,

I don’t have any practical suggestions. Although I was reminded of a scripture:
Matt 6:28-33

Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.
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God Bless you,
VC
 
Paris Blues:
…and I sighed out loud and thought, okay, it’s either you love fashion or love God. …
Is it possible to love both God and fashion at the same time? It must be because I’m experiencing it.
Any suggestions?
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I think that you are setting yourself up with a false dichotomy here.

It is very possible to enjoy beautiful things as well as love God. It is all part of Creation isn’t it?

“Loving” fashion however seems a bit problematic. Are you sure you’re using the right word?

PS there is more to Paris than just fashion so it might be worth a trip. A visit to Notre Dame perhaps?

PPS didn’t you leave last week? 😉
 
I don’t think God minds if we have other interests besides Him… so long as we love Him most. I am not so into fashion, but I like to look at decorating magazines & imagine my dream house… I also read Runner’s World from cover to cover the minute it lands in my mailbox.

I love my Catholic Faith… it’s very important to me, but it’s not the ONLY thing I’m about. So you happen to like fashion… no biggie IMO.

🙂 CM
 
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steveandersen:
I think that you are setting yourself up with a false dichotomy here.

It is very possible to enjoy beautiful things as well as love God. It is all part of Creation isn’t it?

“Loving” fashion however seems a bit problematic. Are you sure you’re using the right word?
😉
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Well, I might be “over doing” it (I sometimes can have a reputation for “overdoing” things). The reason why I’m saying this is because it’s kinda like the concept where you can’t love God and money. That’s what I was getting at. Because didn’t Scripture say something like you can’t serve two masters or something like that? You’ll despise the one and love the other?

If it’s not that big a deal in reality, than I wont worry. But I was concerned because I didn’t want to love fashion and forget about God, if you know what I mean. Really, I’m really wanting to love God about ALL things and that includes fashion.
 
This is what Pope John Paul II said one time:
“Being faithful to Christ is loving him with all of one’s soul and all of one’s heart in such a way that this love becomes the standard and motive of all our actions. Believing and loving God means a consistent life, lived wholly in the light of the Gospel; … this is not easy. It often calls for great courage in going against the trends of fashion and the opinions of our world. But this is the one requirement for a truly successful and happy life. Let yourselves be seized by Jesus and try to live just for him.”
Unless that meant fashion for fashions of houses, old fashioned donuts, etc. I don’t know. 😃
 
I heard an interesting quote which I think aptly applys to this. St. Padre Pio said, “Hand me my Weapon.” and they had him his Rosary. I think you should give something like a try.

Trust me, Pray the Roasry (or anything really) once a day for two months or so and after that it really becomes a habit that feels bad when you don’t do it. So remeber, “Pray, Pray, Pray.”
 
Paris Blues:
This is what Pope John Paul II said one time:
“Being faithful to Christ is loving him with all of one’s soul and all of one’s heart in such a way that this love becomes the standard and motive of all our actions. Believing and loving God means a consistent life, lived wholly in the light of the Gospel; … this is not easy. It often calls for great courage in going against the trends of fashion and the opinions of our world. But this is the one requirement for a truly successful and happy life. Let yourselves be seized by Jesus and try to live just for him.”
Unless that meant fashion for fashions of houses, old fashioned donuts, etc. I don’t know. 😃
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I think that line about fashion was getting at the modesty issue. Many fashions today are very immodest and therefore immoral. However, that does not mean “Green is the in-color, so I better not wear any green clothes” 😃 If you are very interested in fashion, you could make a fun hobby of dressing in fashion but modestly, since that might take a bit of creativity and research!
 
Paris Blues:
It often calls for great courage in going against the trends of fashion and the opinions of our world
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I think the “fashion” here was not intended to mean clothes, specifically, but rather, fads in general. Fads can be about anything, from technology to clothes, to pet rocks, to poorly-thought-out popular opinions.
 
OK, first of all, it’s not immoral to look at fashion magazines in itself (unless you’re a man, maybe, and not looking for the clothes…) but anything done to excess can be a vice. I love gardening, and sometimes I go overboard in how much time and money I spend on my garden, taking it away from other things I should be doing, and then feel guilty. It isn’t wrong to love beauty and art, which fashion is a type of; though you might find that the holy spirit could bring about a change in your taste after a while, for instance, you might prefer more and more modest styles -
in any event, even if you were doing anything wrong, I don’t think it’s grave matter, so don’t be discouraged…
 
Perhaps you are being lead to fashion because this may be your calling to work in the field. My niece is a fashion designer in NY. But she also is a faithful Catholic and knows what is uppermost important in her life. Use this desire appropriately if that is what it is. God didn’t want any of us to be constantly punishing ourselves for something that may not be sinful. It is when we put it in the proper perspective and use it wisely that we are using all things of God’s creation as He intended. With all things, Pray!
 
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stbruno:
Perhaps you are being lead to fashion because this may be your calling to work in the field. My niece is a fashion designer in NY. But she also is a faithful Catholic and knows what is uppermost important in her life. Use this desire appropriately if that is what it is. God didn’t want any of us to be constantly punishing ourselves for something that may not be sinful. It is when we put it in the proper perspective and use it wisely that we are using all things of God’s creation as He intended. With all things, Pray!
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Well, I don’t know if I could work in that field. My field is graphic design & illustration! But hey, I could design clothes on the computer using Adobe Illustrator! 😃
 
Just love God first. Then he’ll likely lead you back to fashion but with His purpose for you in mind.

Heaven knows our country is in dire need of decent fashion designers. Women seem to either have a choice between looking like Paris Hilton (aren’t I clever?) and an Amish.

I used to fret over the same thing with my obsession. But my spiritual adviser advised against dumping it because it did have a lot of “good” in it. Besides, dropping the things you really enjoy and maybe have a skill for doesn’t exactly make Christians credible.
 
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Dmitri451:
I think the “fashion” here was not intended to mean clothes, specifically, but rather, fads in general. Fads can be about anything, from technology to clothes, to pet rocks, to poorly-thought-out popular opinions.
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Thats what I thought, I would read it more as the trends of society, lifestyles etc not clothes fashion.
 
Paris Blues:
This is what Pope John Paul II said one time:
“Being faithful to Christ is loving him with all of one’s soul and all of one’s heart in such a way that this love becomes the standard and motive of all our actions. Believing and loving God means a consistent life, lived wholly in the light of the Gospel; … this is not easy. It often calls for great courage in going against the trends of fashion and the opinions of our world. But this is the one requirement for a truly successful and happy life. Let yourselves be seized by Jesus and try to live just for him.”
Unless that meant fashion for fashions of houses, old fashioned donuts, etc. I don’t know. 😃
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Hey Paris, glad to see you here. As you grow in closeness to God, you will change some of your old habits and hobbies after determining they no longer suit you or because they keep you from the Lord. However, you do have a propensity toward scrupulosity (as i have mentioned before) and i think if you looked at the situation objectively, you could see how the devil might be trying to get you to choose between God and love of fashion. God wants you to have hobbies, and as long as it doesn’t cause you to dress immodestly, there is most likely nothing wrong with reading a fluff magazine and enjoying it. If you choose to abandon said habit in the future because of prayerful decision making, that is one thing, but don’t flip out and think that if you do something, even a sinful habit, then you are no longer any good to God and you should abandon the Church. I don’t know if you’ve reconsidered about that, but please know that if you sin, you need to draw nearer to the Lord, not pull away. Be like Peter, who returned after denying Christ, not like Judas who despaired and was lost.
Love always,
dafalax
 
Good going Paris.

You recognised something that draws you back to your old sinful life.

Being obsessed about fashion is certainly a tie to be broken. We should live at all times for Christ. Every action, thought, deed or word should be for Him.

Break this tie with the devil.

Fashion is not something that adds to your spiritual life. In fact it will slowly draw you back to sin.

Believe me, you posting about this issue shows a recognition of its wrongness. And we both want to be 100% for God right?

I recommend reading up on St Therese de Lisieux if you havent already. You guys would be roughly the same age. I think you would relate very well.

In Christ.

Andre.
 
Dear Paris,

Oh my, you do bring back a lot of memories with this thread! 😃

Been there, done that, for sure, my friend. I believe the Holy Spirit is putting you under conviction through making you keenly aware of this area of your life. The key is to ask yourself what takes place interiorly as you are buying and/or wearing these fashionable clothes. How do your thoughts gravitate? To humility? To pride? To desires for excellence?

I had such a problem with this that whenever I was in the company of others, I could not listen very well to them because I was too busy preening myself with thoughts of whether or not they noticed how well I looked with my fashionable clothes! My mind drifted to my own thoughts as they spoke with me. Yuk!

There is also a scripture that helps us to discern, “Where your treasure is, there also is your heart.” If you find yourself dwelling upon these fashions with eagerness to purchase more and more of the latest and best, it is something the Lord is tapping you on the shoulder to analyze.

Yes, there is a cure, but if you are not having a similar problem, maybe I should avoid typing it for the moment.

Carole
 
Paris Blues:
I’m battling with love of fashion/God.

Let me explain: I used to be a fashion freak (and still am) and love to go clothes shopping and also like to look at new fashion too whether in magazines, etc.

However, for the past 5 months or so, the love for fashion grew dimmer and dimmer and the love for God grew stronger and stronger.

I was cleaning my apartment a little yesterday and unfortunetely came across the Elle magazines I used to get and before I even realized what I was doing, I started flipping through them and the love for fashion grew again. I could sense the Holy Spirit whispering in my heart, “Put that magazine down and love Me! Fashion wont bring you happiness but I can”😃 I prayed, “Lord, I’m sorry.”

I did put the magazines down but they’re still on my couch and coffee table. Last night I was flipping through a Paris, France book looking at fashion (I should never go there because I know they are huge on fashion) and the Holy Spirit dwelled in my heart again and I sighed out loud and thought, okay, it’s either you love fashion or love God. Now even though that love for fashion grew again, my love for God didn’t decrease thank goodness. However, I really do deep down desire to love God above all else and I hope He can take my love for fashion away from me.

As I was getting ready for beddy-by last night, I knew I had this: 50/50.

Is it possible to love both God and fashion at the same time? It must be because I’m experiencing it.

Any suggestions?
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Hi there Paris Blues…yes, I think it is possible to love God and also fashion. It is not perfect love of God since love of fashion is a sharing of your love with something other than God. Our love will not reach perfection until Heaven. Perhaps The Lord shall allow fashion to be “the thorn in my (your)side” (St. Paul) and this has immense and entirely valuable spiritual profit, since the thorns in our sides keep us humble. And humility is the foundation of all the virtues.
The core of the matter is motivation. We do have a saint whose name now escapes me who always dressed extremely well as her husband was a wealthy man…it was not love of fashion that motivated her, but rather respect of her husband. Hence motivation can alter a matter. Appearances do not always and often reveal the motivation. Only God sees that in its fullness.

Perhaps The Lord shall cure you completely of your love of fashion…perhaps…but undoubtedly and in the interests of humility, there will be probably many other ‘thorns in the side’ keeping you humble.
Never turn from anything that keeps one humble…value it! In this way “in my weakness I am strong” (St. Paul again) because my weakness or failure is keeping me humble. Hence “Oh happy fault!” Does this mean we should not engage in the never ending battle against our faults, failures and imperfections…no it it does not, but rather to engage in the struggle in peace and joy in the knowledge of God’s Mercy and love of us. The latter by far and absolutely transcend any fault, imperfection or sin. An appeal to them never unheeded but with abundant love and generosity is God’s Love and Mercy showered on the soul who appeals to them.
At times, we look back over our journey and realize that something that really troubled us no longer does. We cannot discern how exactly this came abourt…The Holy Spirit often is a very silent and indeed humble worker, He does not often drawn attention to His Workings. But then of course there are times too when He Desires us to see His Workings and to insight them…when we are quite conscious of His Workings in us and the dynamics of what He is bringing about. All is The Lord’s prerogative and is Good and to the Glory of The Father. One God. Amen.

Barb
 
Hi again Paris Blues…I though this just may be of help in developing something of an overall attitude to matters in the spiritual life. Our own disposition and the truth of it is well know to The Lord and of far more importance than these matters (since our knowledge is entirely fallible and perhaps mistaken)is His Love and Mercy and our abandonment to them. He is also far more involved and concerned about our spiritual good than we ever could be and He has it within His Power to increase this spiritual good if He so desires…the important thing is not my will no matter how lofty and unselfishly etc. it may aspire, but what God actually wills and permits and complete resignation to Him. Unity is a unity of one’s will with that of God…this is the essence of Unity and the spiritual way or road and if there is any measurement it is love of neighbour.

Patience with Oneself
…From Letters (XXXIII)of Jean Pierre de Caussade published in
Abandonment to Divine Providence:
ccel.org/ccel/decaussade/abandonment.iv.ii.xxxiii.html

"…A soul to whom God makes known its defects is much more burdensome to itself than its neighbour ever could be to it, because the latter, however near to us, is not always with us; at any rate is not within us, whereas we carry ourselves about with us, and cannot leave ourselves for a single moment, nor completely cease to behold ourselves, to feel ourselves, and to carry about with us everywhere our imperfections, and our faults.
But see wherein the infinite goodness of our God shines forth; for the sorrow and shame that our faults cause us are their own remedy, provided that this shame never turns into defiance, and that the sorrow is inspired by the love of God, and not by self-love. Sorrow born of self-love is full of vexation and bitterness; far from healing the wounds of our soul, it only serves to poison them.
On the other hand, sorrow produced by the love of God is calm and full of resignation; while detecting the fault it delights in the humiliation which follows, and from this it results that much merit is gained, and thus even from losses we make profit.
Cease then from tormenting yourself on account of yur defects and of the imperfection of your works. Offer to God the sorrow they occasion you, and allow His divine Providence to make good these slight infidelities by many little crosses and sufferings of all kinds. Arm yourself only with patience, raise yourself again as soon as possible and deplore your falls with a sweet, tranquil humility. God wishes you to act thus, and by this indefatigable patience you will render Him more glory and will make more progress than the most violent efforts would have enabled you to do.
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