toward living like florescent orange and sore thumbs

When "orange" doesn't quite make the statement you want…

There's "florescent orange." (FO)

That's more like it.

I am in a season of life where a subset of my wardrobe includes FO.

Hunting season to be exact.

And so, on certain mornings, afternoons and evenings, I reach for a nice polyester blend vest with big pockets…And don a stylish ball cap…

Both, loudly and proudly, FO.

Granted, not only is it illegal to walk into the hunting woods of western PA without the proper square inches of FO, it is foolish.

Here's another term for you: "High-powered" as in rifles. Whoever came up with that one was brilliant…Redundantly so, but brilliant none the less.

FO helps the average hunter keep his or her "high-powered" rifles aimed at the animals, not at the other hunters, so bring on the FO Carhartt overalls, gloves, hats, boots, underwear…

In this case, sticking out is underrated.

I have however compartmentalized the FO part of my wardrobe. Other than hunting trips, my hat hangs securely on its hook in the basement. My vest is tucked away in a tub with other neon accessories.

Some men embrace the FO vibe. When it comes to American Eagle Outfitters, think more "Outfitter" than "American Eagle," unless of course, you want to shoot the eagle…

However, I am not one of those men.

Headed to the grocery store…black North Face fleece, muted green hat with "Gap" across the front. Yes.

Headed to the grocery store…FO coat with "Gorilla Tree Stands" across the back, and FO hat with "Mossy Oak" across the front. No.

(Not that there's anything wrong with that…)

Indeed, my love/hate relationship with FO has me thinking about the color of my Christianity. Something else that is easily compartmentalized.

The Bible's analogies to light and salt aren't prescriptive for certain seasons. There is a "sticking-outness" to it all. These metaphors speak of lives that constantly permeate cultures that are dark and savorless.

What distinctions for Christ have you ignored? What qualities of Jesus are hanging in the closet? What fruit of the Spirit is packed away in the bin?

You can't just take that off.

Matthew 5:14-16