Smitten for Mittens

Screenshot of the Bernie picture from CNBC.com

Social media has been rather enthusiastic this week about a pair of mittens - they belong to Bernie Sanders, and he wore them at the US Presidential inauguration. If you've not seen them, you've likely not been on the internet this week!

The story behind them is lovely - he was gifted them by Jen Ellis, a constituent who recycles and upcycles materials into mittens. She's a working mom who does this on the side, and was apparently surprised by the sudden popularity.

But obviously, these mittens have meaning for the wearer. He chose them for a reason (not just warmth and practicality!). He attached value to them that goes beyond the proverbial price tag.

We all do this: we all have things that mean much to us because of their backstory. That overworn-and-too-small child's hat that Grandma knitted, or the dog-eared book that was part of a grand adventure with friends. We attribute a higher meaning to things that have conveyed love.

Our faith is similar; we attach different meanings to various objects (the family bible, the confirmation gift) and to certain spaces (the pew a widow sat in with her husband for 40+ years, or the sound of the pealing bells that drew us to worship). Certain prayers will transport us back to a time when we felt closest to God's grace, a passage of scripture can reinvigorate a key moment in our faith development. They have more value for us because they have brought us to the source of all love. They don't become a god for us, but they remind us of our ongoing relationship with God.

We add value to those things that have brought us closer to God, those times that have enriched our faith, those spaces that have been a pathway for our spiritual journey.

So... what has meaning for you? How do those objects remind you of your faith and inspire you in your ministry?

And... what have you shared with others that may become a reminder of your involvement in their faith journey?