Jesus Might Have Worn Crazy Socks

Lady’s you are way ahead of us men when it comes to wearing crazy socks. While reading an interesting article as I prepared for today’s 4th Day Letter, I concluded that if crazy socks would have been available in Jesus’ days, He would have been the first to wear them.

It has been recorded that the earliest known pair of socks had their origin sometime between 300-500 AD. This was a few hundred years too late for Jesus. Throughout most of human history socks were worn mainly for warmth.  During more recent times woman branched out into more vibrant colored socks as part of their fashion. Men on the other hand, held strong to the tradition of dark solid colored blue, black or gray socks. Now however, over the last 4-5 years wearing wild colored crazy socks has become a clothing statement for men as well.

President George H. W. Bush pioneered the new fashion statement when he was spotted wearing eye-catching pink socks. Since that time notables such as Dwyane Wade and Rob Kardashian have introduced their own line of crazy fashion socks. In 2015, John Haltiwanger wrote an article called: People Who Wear Crazy Socks Are Rebellious, Intriguing And Successful. It was from his article that I began to see Jesus as someone who, if they had been available during His time, would have been a trend setter with these socks.

I must, for the sake of transparency, state here that a few years ago my wife, who buys most of my clothes, began buying me wild colored crazy socks. Now I am a big fan of these bold socks and they are about all that is in my sock drawer.

Read this next paragraph and then close your eyes for just a minute and see if you can picture in your mind what I am about to describe. Imagine Jesus wearing a colorful pair of wild socks with His sandals. Just the thought of it makes me smile. Imagine the look on the guests’ faces when Jesus strolled into the wedding feast at Cana sporting pink socks with blue polka dots. Only a man with a deep sense of his inner being would have done this. Imagine next the strange look on Peter’s face when he sees Jesus walking towards him on water with bright green socks with an a fluorescent colored design on them. Clearly only a man with supreme confidence in His abilities would dare do such a thing. Finally of course, there is the scene at the dinner party in Bethany. While Lazarus reclines and Martha waits on everyone, Mary would have had to ask Jesus to take off His stunning vibrant bold colored socks before she poured the nard on His feet. Now that we know that Judas was all upset about the wasted value of the perfume, imagine just how much more he would have been upset with Jesus for spending money on these fashion socks.

Okay I am having too much fun with this. You are most likely wondering if I have a point to make. In fact I do. Why did I make the boastful claim that Jesus would have worn these socks? Here are some of the key points from the article I read.

  • In a world where conformity often reigns supreme, it takes a bold individual to throw on a pair of socks covered in arbitrary neon colors and proudly exhibit them in public.
  • People who wear crazy socks tend to be rebellious and expressive.
  • Wacky sock wearers are leading a subtle revolution against the complacency of boring socks.
  • Men who wear wild socks refuse to let social standards dictate what adorns their feet.
  • Crazy socks help emanate a more vivacious, innovative and intriguing image, particularly at work
  • Colorful or character socks show playfulness and make a great icebreaker or way to connect with others
  • Another possible advantage of wearing fanciful socks and other unexpected attire: You build a brand as ‘the gutsy guy’ or a creative type and over time, it may give you more room to bend or break rules.
  • Our clothing choices often dictate the way others view and treat us. Thus, wearing a crazy pair of socks might help us feel braver and more unpredictable, leading us to uncharted waters and in turn, greater success in life.
  • Success is largely achieved by leaping into the unknown and embracing risks.

The article concluded with this: “If you’re going to take a leap of faith and willingly approach challenging situations, you might as well be wearing some wacky socks when you do.” Now let me ask you this as I look back on the list above. Has there ever in the history of man been someone bolder, who was willing to lead a spiritual revolution, who masterfully used the expressive technique of parables to make His points, who refused to allow the social norms of His time dictate His actions, who was vivacious, innovative and intriguing, who was a great ice breaker with those He encountered, who was a gutsy guy who led Jews and Gentiles alike into unchartered waters and was willing to embrace the risk of death on a cross to save us all from our sins?  We all know the answer is a resounding no! Reading those key points about men who wear crazy socks sparked my belief that Jesus would have worn crazy socks if they would have been available.

Just imagine if that trend would have caught on. Starting with the apostles, all of His followers would have been quick to wear crazy socks too. These socks would have come to be known as yet another sign of being a Christian. Well we all know that this didn’t happen. But what I do know is that we want to emulate the qualities of Jesus. Jesus exhibited all of the traits of someone who wears these wild socks. We should strive to have these traits too. Then we could all go buy a pair of the wildest crazy sock we can find. When someone asks us why we have these socks, we can say we are just trying to emulate Jesus.

Here is one more way we can be like Jesus. I read that socks are the most requested item from homeless people and homeless shelters. Why don’t we all go purchase and donate some socks to a homeless shelter in our area today?

P.S. I have had the flu and bronchitis for over a week and I just needed to write something lighthearted to make me and hopefully all of you smile!

I thank you Heavenly Father for the gift of humor. Sometimes this old world gets too serious. Humor is your gift to allow us to smile. Amen!

As always, I love to read your comments below as well as hear from you personally by clicking here.


Brian on a Podcast

Have you listened to Father Charles Klamut podcast interview of me yet?

https://soundcloud.com/pastoralquotient/rethinking-brokenness-and-vulnerability-with-brian-pusateri

Brian Pusateri
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10 Comments

  1. Mary Lou on February 9, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    Sorry you’ve sick, hope your well and back on your feet (crazy socks) and all soon!
    I can picture Jesus and the apostles wearing them, this article sure put a smile on my face.

    Thank you for your wonderful letters.

    • Brian Pusateri on February 9, 2017 at 8:13 pm

      Mary Lou

      I am delighted to know it made you smile. Thanks for writing. May God’s blessings be with you.

      Brian

  2. Patricia Belanger on February 7, 2017 at 8:04 pm

    Maybe we have to get some of these socks for our friars – especially in the cold weather.

    • Brian Pusateri on February 8, 2017 at 1:36 am

      Pat

      My wife and I got them each a pair for Christmas. They are styling with them on. They could always use more. However knowing them, they would be more honored to see some given to the homeless in their name. God bless.

      Brian

  3. John Remensnyder on February 7, 2017 at 4:34 pm

    Brian,
    Great letter. Barbara has always been the crazy sock wearer in our house guess I will have to run out and get a couple of pair. Mine are either black or white…..boring !
    John

    • Brian Pusateri on February 7, 2017 at 5:25 pm

      John

      Thanks for writing. When in doubt, just always remember WWJW. What would Jesus Wear. I can see that Barbara is the trend setter in your family. I am sure you will enjoy those new socks when you get them. God bless you my friend.

      Brian

  4. Greg Hohman on February 7, 2017 at 8:30 am

    Hey Brian, a good read that made me smile. I’ve enjoyed mine at Christmas time, haha. Hope you will try 2tsp of ACV/day, it’s workin’ for me, I’m just sayin. Also, let me know if we can partner on a new line of JSS! (Jesus’ Socks Save; man we could go wild, lol). Blessings, gh

    • Brian Pusateri on February 7, 2017 at 9:46 am

      Greg:

      Thanks for the advice. I will need to look into that. Great idea on the socks.

      Brian

  5. Mindy on February 7, 2017 at 7:50 am

    Hi Brian!
    Hope you feel better soon! Enjoyed your humor. Our boys like wearing these socks. “Happy Socks” That’s how we feel when we wear Jesus! HAPPY!! Thanks for all you do!!

    • Brian Pusateri on February 7, 2017 at 8:02 am

      Mindy

      Thanks for writing. Glad to know your boys live happy socks, so do I. There was that old song that had these words: “If you are happy and you know it clap your hands….” Maybe now it should be, “If you are happy and filled with Jesus clap your feet….” just a thought.?

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