(It’s Guest Post Friday! Today’s post is from Chloe Semones. Chloe, newly graduated and newly in debt, is hopeful of great things while wandering through the desert of unemployment; an enjoyer of most things typical of twenty somethings, while always debating she is not; raised in the church, which allowed many years of observation on habitual and bizarre things we followers of Jesus do. If you want to write a guest post for SCL, here’s how.)
The “Church bathing suit” By Chloe Semones
Phew, thank goodness bathing suit season is coming to a close. Why?
Because the summer is the time of year where every youth and college related gathering is at the judge’s stand, the pool. Many different churches and denominations have a particular view when it comes to the bathing suit standard. For women this can be the testing of one’s reputation, God forbid you are the only one wearing the two piece!
I found myself changing before my first weekly college gathering at the pool and thought, “I didn’t get the warning that this is a one piece only kind of group, what if I am the only one in a two piece?” I walked out luckily clothed, bathing suit under, and assessed my peers. “Oh geez, I am the only one.”
It happened to be an abnormally humid day and all I wanted was a refreshing dip in the pool. Nope, I was the only one. I spent what could have been a potentially thrilling experience with my legs over the side and shirt on. I was that girl. When this sort of incidence occurs it often leaves you feeling like the young adults modern day Rahab. It is always a gamble going to a pool party with a new crowd, best advice: go with the one piece.
There are indicators however that can save you from a terribly humiliating experience.
First off, survey the male female interaction. This is a simple gauging exercise that will most accurately determine the standard. If the group closely resembles an elementary school lunch table with boys on one side and girls on the other, this is most definitely a one piece wearin’ crowd.
The correlation?
My guess is the gentlemen are far too concerned with water basketball while simultaneously dunking anyone in their radius, to carry on any sort of conversation with the opposite sex.
Another clue that may be related to what the masses are wearing is the pool party’s music mix. I will say this particular test is a bit iffy, as it was in my case. Generally speaking though, if there is secular music on the line up, chances are the two piece is socially acceptable. From my experience these have been the two patterns I have noticed.
Granted, tankini wearers (this is the modest version of a bikini) are trying to push the boundaries, not committing to a full blown one piece. Not only does this mean they most likely own a bikini, but to be absolutely certain take notice of the patterns and colors. If the suit is mix matched, you know the bottom portion of the suit was taken from their bikini. I can say that with certainty because I am guilty of this one.
I’m learning that my peers all have the “church” bathing suit and the separate recreational suit, funny how that goes. I believe Christians often designate different areas of their life as church appropriate vs. out in the world appropriate, we are always looking to compartmentalize.
From my perspective, other than the “swimmer’s snowsuit,” something I just invented, no women’s bathing suit is particularly modest. So, I have never formed an opinion on which I will stand behind and rally for. Honestly, I just want to swim and not think to hard about it, which I have already proven to have done. Sometimes it’s hard not to over analyze the insignificant.
There you have it folks everything you didn’t care to know about when it comes to bathing suits and the church.
Question:
Am I the only one that has ever thought about “church bathing suits?”
(Today’s post is from Chloe Semones. If you want to write a guest post for SCL, here’s how.)
