White After Labor Day

“But you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Genesis 2:17

Have you ever wondered why certain rules exist? It’s the first week of September and as Labor Day approaches, summer is leaving 2012 behind. I live in Texas which means that although the calendar denotes that fall is coming, our 100 degree days and balmy nights indicate otherwise. Nevertheless, it’s around this time every year that people began switching over their summer wardrobe for more suitable fall attire. Which also means we eliminate certain colors in favor of others. Out go the lemon, coral, fuchsia and lime. In their place are mustard, burnt orange, eggplant and hunter green. And by all means, out with white!

But why is that? For as long as I can remember, the adage ‘Don’t wear white after Labor Day’ has been ingrained in my head, with the voice looming ever-so-gently around this time of the year. And every year I go along with this notion because social etiquette dictates I must. But, for the life of me, I don’t know why. What is wrong with white that it must be banned during this time of the year? I know of no other color that suffers a similar fate. Black is the quintessential color. It can be worn any time of the year with no consequences. The same with blue, red, green, the list goes on. But white has somehow found itself not quite so lucky.

Adam and Eve had their own ‘rule’ dilemma. Though not related to wearing white, instead they were faced with a rule that on the surface seemed illogical. God told them that they could eat of every fruit of every tree except the one in the center; the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:17). From an outsider’s perspective two millennia after the fact it doesn’t seem like a hard or strange request. Of course, knowing the outcome often makes deciding what to do easier 🙂 Yet for Adam and Eve, the rule was one that they found themselves disobeying.  The crafty serpent had a hand in convincing Eve who later convinced Adam to eat from the tree. But, his part in the story does little to sway God or ease His judgment. In fact, He punished Adam, Eve and the serpent who acted as the principal instigator.  Their punishments have followed mankind throughout the generations up until this very day. Man must earn his wages by the sweat of his brow through toil and hard work. And women now must experience increased pain with childbirth. Whew! What punishment! And all for disobeying one simple rule.

Sometimes rules, though simple and perhaps illogical on the surface really do serve a purpose much bigger than what we think. I have no idea what the reason is for not wearing white after Labor Day. And it really doesn’t matter. It’s clear that every rule doesn’t carry the same weight or have the same impact if followed (or broken). Breaking a few etiquette rules will probably get you across look or a cause a whisper or two. But breaking God’s rules will cost you a whole lot more. And like Adam and Eve, your decisions might have a lasting effect on others.

#LaborDay #Genesis #wearingwhite #AdamandEve #Bible #rules #religion