My Ecumenical Cap

My Ecumenical Cap

I got a new cap today.

Well, actually I got it over a month ago, but I had to exchange it for a bigger size.

It seems my head is bigger than my size. Not that I didn’t measure it before it was ordered. I did. But despite that, my head is bigger than I seem ready to acknowledge. At least by some measure.

Anyway, the thing is, my brother gave it to me as a gift. He knows I have something of a fetish for a particular style of cap. It’s basically a skull cap, but it has a specific way it’s designed… and stitched.

It’s important to get the stitching and patterns right when you’re placing a cap on your head. Which might seem to be something of an unnecessary encumbrance. Stitching, that is. Because being particular about stitching and design can rule out a lot of hats and caps.

But the thing is, just as clothes can make the man, design and stitching communicate a message. Even if I’m the only one who understands the language. So let me explain.

The main thing I love about my new cap is that it is ecumenical.

You’ve probably never considered the ecumenical when considering a hat. I can’t say I typically do, either. But my little cap literally transcends time and boundaries.

Is it the cap of a biker? Or maybe a Muslim? Perhaps it’s the cap of an anarchist. Then again, it just might be that I have really strange taste. And I’m open to that.

Here’s the thing, though: Since it can be seen as any of those things, then clearly it qualifies as being ecumenical. Because it’s inclusive. Its style can be claimed by a lot of groups. And inclusiveness is at the core of what defines ecumenicalism. So, I think my cap is an important statement, particularly when there are so many people eager to flame the fires of division.

Don’t get me wrong. My cap is not the symbol of a movement. It’s far too modest for that. But then again, maybe it is in a way. Because it represents a visible, outward way for one guy to say, “Hey, can we just slow down the hate long enough to not hate? I mean, we can all wear the same cap.”

So, to my brother I want to say, “Thanks, man!” He definitely appreciates the ecumenical.