This morning, like every morning, I started my day in a coffee shop. It’s become a way of life, a habit if you will. Why else persist with a ritual like this if it isn’t for the pleasure of it or to avoid the inevitable caffeine induced headache if I ever stop.
While on the road, my early morning coffee stops have provided me with a place to meet new people, watch the world go by and to gather my plans for the day. If I’ve the mind, it’s also become a regular moment when I might write some rubbish about LUE (life, the universe and everything)
Today’s LUE is obviously about habit, not just the morning coffee shop type but the habit of a costume – the wearing of a religious uniform.
“Hey, look at me I’m an XYZ god-botherer and this is my hat, or my headscarf or my beard, or my symbol to tell you that I belong to this or that clan. And by the way, you, you who look like a real tosser, no good atheist in your blue jeans and t-shirt don’t (belong to my clan, that is) .”
It’s Saturday morning in Golders Green, London NW11. The time is approximately 08:00 and I’ve just walked the 15-20 minutes from mother’s home to Caffé Nero for my double-shot espresso with hot water on the side. They make a good espresso at Café Nero and so far I’ve managed to down 2 cups on each visit. Three more stamps on my card and I will get a free one, and since I’m of that faith where anything free is worth grabbing with both hands, I am looking forward with consummate delight to that momentous day when I will receive my due and just reward.
The walk from my mother’s home is almost as interesting as a short stroll along the Ganga. There are no painted sadhus here, but there are holy (well maybe I best call them religious) men and women a plenty. Young boys and old geezers alike dressed in the garb of their various religious sects. Some wear broad-brimmed, tall black hats that sit high on the head and look particularly uncomfortable and ungainly, especially on a 16 year old.
Others sport large round fir hats (a streimel) and wear black or white tights and long silk looking coats.
And both have their white tzitzis trailing out from beneath long coats or dark suit jackets..
Some have jaunty skull caps worn on the side. And for the first time ever I saw a few young men wearing baseball hats as they walked to their synagogues for prayer and instruction.
No doubt there are very good reasons why these people parade their religious uniforms. One reason is it’s Saturday and another is probably because they like it. So who am I to nay-say their experience.
Maybe in some way wearing a religious uniform enriches people’s god experience. Maybe these things are occupational health and safety measures spelt out in their scriptures.
On the other hand, maybe they’re nothing more than a habit.
