“What Not To Wear” A Model for Spiritual Growth

January 28, 2009

               I love “What Not to Wear”!  It is a great model for Spiritual Growth -  I am serious - both churches and individuals could learn a lot from What Not To Wear!.

For those of you who haven’t had the pleasure – WNTW is a personal makeover show on TLC.   All of these shows follow the same kind of pattern, each episode takes a person needing a personal  makeover and shows the the viewer their life “before”,  then shows all things that are done to them (hair, makeup, shopping, etc), then, finally, there is the “reveal”, when all their friends and family see their transformation and the madeover person usually is very emotional about the whole thing. 

 I can’t really recommend  other personal makeover shows as spiritual growth models – but WNTW is different in three major ways.

 First, the hosts, Stacy and Clinton, work to help the client see themselves as they really are, not who they think they are, or wish they were.  You would be surprised at how many controllers of small companies act (and dress) like they were Grateful Dead groupies.   You would not be surprised at how this hampers their growth both in their professions and in their personal relationships.  So many churches and people live in a fantasy about who they are.  They seem to think that because they wish it they will be in prosperous suburb instead of a commercial block in an inner city.  How can we grow into who God created us to be if we don’t even know who we are?

Second, Stacy and Clinton take the old clothes and throw them away!  You see the trash can right there! (Actually I think the clothes go to Goodwill or Salvation Army ).  This is great because then the person knows that there is no turning back.  Churches and people need to know that there is no turning back when we seek to make changes in our lives.

Third, Stacy and Clinton make the client choose their new clothes.  The client has to take responsibility for themselves.  Sometimes, S & C will step into give a little guidance, but usually the client is on their own and then discusses their experience later.  Spiritual growth is not something someone else can do for you.