does modest swimwear matter?
catholicinfilmschool on May 19th 2009 02:07 pm
YES.
Yes it does.
I will be the first to admit that I have not always been an advocate of modest swimwear, especially since some of it is not very….fashionable. But when I was dressed in my tankini with a plunging neckline, I was never really able to escape the nagging feeling that I was being hypocritical.
I pushed the feeling away by telling myself that I was at the beach, I’m a SoCal girl, modesty standards are different here, and blah blah blah. In a sense I was correct—I am a SoCal girl and modesty standards are different here, but am I called to live to the standards of California or to the everlasting truth of Christ?
I personally know A LOT of girls who advocate modesty and yet still rock bikinis at the beach. If you believe what I once did—that modesty doesn’t apply during the summer—please keep reading.
I had a discussion with a group of friends last week about this very subject. My guy friend, “D” as I shall refer to him, said something I think many men are thinking but won’t say out loud:
“I don’t think women really understand how poisoned we are and how much we men, especially Christian men, still struggle with lust. We need your help.”
Well there you have it. In a perfect, undefiled world, men and women would be able to stare at each other butt naked and think, “Wow, look at this beautiful creation of God.” But as I am sure you are aware, we do not live in a perfect world. We live in an ongoing war zone, a battle for souls.
Ladies, which side are you on?
“Love can’t wait to give, Lust can’t wait to take”
~Christopher West
This topic will be continued, but in the meantime I definitely want to hear what you have to say…
Filed in Modest Swimwear, chastity & stuff | Comments (6)
I love your blog!
I’m definitely on your side about this– it’s almost impossible to find modest, non-frumpy swimwear, but women should find and wear it anyway!
As for what your friend D said, I’ve heard similar things from my very Catholic guyfriends. They face so many temptations in today’s world; we “modest” women should try not to become another temptation towards lust.
I have never heard any guys say that to me but then most of my guy friends happen to have sisters that are really modest also, so I guess it just hasn’t been brought up. It really does makes since though.
-C
I totally 100% agree.
A couple of years ago I went through the, “it doesn’t matter as much ’cause I’m at the beach and I’m still more covered up than 75% of the girls here…” And then I realized that I was compromising my values for the sake of conformity and affirmation!
I completely agree! Modesty is an ongoing struggle in this generation and I believe that women should be more careful about what they put on. We should be thinking of others when we get dressed for the day. (even at the beach!)
good blog! keep up the good work.
Hi I’m definately waiting on part 2 of this article, because this is what’s such a grey area for me. I agree with all the modesty values but I’m really not sure what you can and cannot wear to the beach, or anywhere. Do you have any helpful guidelines?