As I walked into my closet and turned on the light, I spotted something out of the corner of my eye. It was a typical display that I normally ignored in the hustle and bustle of daily life. However, this one moment stood out to me. It called out like a beacon to inspect. I did so, and with it came a clarity that every man needs once in a while – to remind yourself who you are and also where you come from.
Hanging from the rack were my uniforms, which I have collected over my life, arranged in order of reception and all sharing one thing in common – a snapshot of a moment in time of something earned, something that can never be taken, no matter how good or bad life may seem. They were a physical representation of accomplishment.
Staring at them, I gently touched each one, feeling their fibers among my fingertips as memories came back of friends and enemies, and the good times and bad times. I recalled the various challenges and scenarios that occurred while in a particular uniform. And, how I have changed and grown as a man, the trials which the good Lord put me through in each, either physically, mentally, or emotionally.
As I went through each uniform, a legacy flashed before my eyes.
Throughout life, you will wear many uniforms. Each one will take a part of you and give something else in return. It will mold your character, shaping you into who you will be.
It is for this reason a man must choose his uniform carefully because it is an outward manifestation of his loyalty towards something else. If that is a career or country, family or clergy, the uniform says more about the man than he can say about himself, but only if he is, at heart, a good and honest man.
From an army uniform to a pair of stained coveralls, a life’s work lay bare before me. But, with it came the question of most importance, where to now? What comes next? For me, at least, the answer is simple, as I was looking right at the latest uniform to join the old ones, and it was in that moment that I realized I was, and always have been, right where I am meant to be.
Thank God for what you have and the opportunities of your past, which have molded you into who you are today. Everything is going exactly as it should be. Try to take a moment and slow down to reflect on that, just like I did.
God bless you and God bless Dixie.
I have seen three emperors in their nakedness, and the sight was not inspiring.
Nice piece, shows the sentimental value of possessions beyond their material manifestation. Sometimes I wonder if people will have anything to look back on today because they’re moving around so much renting or job hunting, everything gets lost or thrown away.
Nice piece brother. Uniforms, like trophies, remind us of past, our future, and our purpose.