The Theology of Jewelry

The first thing the school principal says to me today is, "Your hair looks bad." Followed by, "Kamal?" Kamal is their word for earring, basically asking me why I wasn't wearing any. I know I blogged earlier about styling my hair to match this culture, as well as wearing earrings because they do. Well, I'm starting to get a little frustrated with the emphasis the women here put on the outward appearance.

As far as hair goes, I really am trying to "look the part," but apparently I didn't meet their expectations today. But as far as earrings, I intentionally didn't wear them today based on the fact that I knew I would get a reaction out of the women! It worked, but was a little more than I had bargained for, I think. The other day I shared 1 Peter 3:3,4 with some of the girls who are training to be teachers. "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." I don't really think that God counts it as a sin if women wear jewelry. I honestly think the message here is don't let your beauty be defined by your outward appearance, but your inner self. I tried to explain that to the girls; I'm not sure if that really went over well or not. I don't think its bad to wear jewelry or make-up or whatever. Its just being sure that your definition of beauty is not in that outward appearance. God made women to be physically beautiful and that should be celebrated. But maybe its getting a little too much emphasis in this situation.

So today I went without earrings to make a point that its not about whether you wear "kamal" or not. Its what's going on inside of your heart. It literally wore me out having to explain myself over and over throughout the day! But the positive part is they are all aware of 1 Peter 3 now. (These are Christian women by the way; if they were Hindu, I wouldn't hold them to this standard. But as women who follow Jesus, I feel like it doesn't hurt to challenge them with the Bible) :)

My feeling at the end of school today was confusion over whether to wear jewelry or not. haha. I can't believe this is such a big deal! There is one woman who cleans at the school who doesn't wear any jewelry at all. Today is the first day I noticed that. For her, I think it has something to do with her caste (basically social status here) and probably finances. She commented on me not wearing jewelry, which I really liked the comment coming from her because I want her to know its fine that she doesn't. She's just as beautiful as the other women.

I think my final conclusion after praying about it today is to continue to wear earrings, and every time a woman with whom I already shared 1 Peter 3 comments about it, I'll remind her that its about the heart, not the outside. I don't want them to feel like they shouldn't ever put emphasis on physical beauty. Its fun to feel pretty. So I'll prayerfully show them that you can wear jewelry but not consumed by it.

Yep, I literally am wrestling over the theology of wearing jewelry or not! And I pray that this will make them wrestle with it, too.