“A Man of Many Hats”

 

Years ago, Al’s dermatologist advised him to wear sunscreen and a hat whenever he went outdoors. Heavy exposure to the sun during a lifetime of outdoor activities, including suntanning, had caused precancerous growths to appear on his hands and face. Being fair-skinned and of English ancestry, he was highly susceptible to skin cancer.

Thus began Al’s hat collection. He now owns a wide variety of hats, mostly designed to keep out the sun. Included in his collection is a lightweight gardening hat with UV protection. It has a broad brim to shield his nose and a neck flap that protects his ears and the back of his neck from getting sunburned.

Then there is a large “Park Ranger” style hat purchased at the Mammoth dig site in South Dakota, useful when hiking along exposed trails; an outback hat made of kangaroo leather from Australia worn for more formal outdoors occasions; and a heavy, knit Russian style hat with ear flaps that was a gift from a Springville neighbor just before moving to Michigan.

While the Russian hat doesn’t keep out the sun, it does completely cover his head leaving only his face exposed. It’s great to wear on cold, blustery winter days. And the sun doesn’t come out much on those days anyway!

His favorite one of all is an outback hat made of leather, that is water-proofed and broken-in from exposure to the elements. The rustic old hat has quite a story!

While we were visiting Zion National Park in Utah about thirty-five years ago, Al spotted a hat in a gift shop with a wide brim that would be perfect in keeping the sun off his nose. There was an Indian Head/Buffalo nickel attached to the crown of the hat, making it even more special.

He would have bought it on the spot; however, the price of seventy-five dollars at that time seemed outrageous. So, he passed it up, sure that he could find something just as “classy” but at a more affordable price elsewhere.

But despite much searching after we returned home and without the availability of online shopping, a good facsimile never turned up. That is, until a visit to Yosemite National Park months later.

We were walking in front of the Grand Ahwahnee Hotel, when Al suggested going into the gift shop. He made a bee-line to the hat rack, and in his own words, “There it was, the identical twin of the one in Zion! $75 still…Sold!” He was ecstatic!

That hat has accompanied him on backpacks, even to the top of Mt. Whitney, and overseas on tours. Once after deboarding a small cruise ship in New Zealand, it was accidently left behind. By the time Al realized he didn’t have his hat and turned around to go back to the boat, one of our tour members came up to him.

“Hi Al!” she said wearing the leather hat and grinning. “I thought you might need this!” It was a little large for her, so she didn’t try to hang on to it!

People have approached him, wanting to know the story behind the hat after seeing how beat up it was. Some have even asked how much money he wanted for it!

“Not for sale!” he always responds. “I like it because it’s beat up like me!”

 A cobbler in a local shoe repair shop recently repaired some of the leather stitching around the brim that had loosened. Good as new…almost!

             Whether we realize it or not, we are in a spiritual battle. Just as Al rarely leaves the house without one of his hats, so the apostle Paul admonishes us, as followers of Christ, to put on our helmet of salvation, as well as all of the armor of God.

The helmet, a symbol of our hope of salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection, protects us from Satan’s attacks and assures us of the final victory that will be ours one day.

Feeling worn out? Beat up by life? Discouraged?  May we put on our helmets, lift up our heads and rejoice in the victory that is ours in Jesus!

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes…Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:10-11, 17 NIV