Be Identifiable

"Are you Amish?" , "What's that thing on you'r head?", "It's important to be identifiable to other anabaptist groups".  Over the past seven years these are questions and phrases I have heard dozens of times. Up until a few weeks ago I had just answered the questions or just accepted the fact that I was to "Be Identifiable" with out much question. However over the past few weeks that has changed. I have recently been attending many functions hosted by the BMA (Biblical Mennonite Alliance) and other unaffiliated anabaptist groups. This past week I attended Anabaptist Orchestra Camp. While there I met a girl named Kristen. When I first met Kristen I noticed her head covering. It was different than any other kind I had seen before. It was not a bonnet style and it was not the traditional hanging veil either. It reminded me of a mini turban with a tail. At first I was thrown into shock and suprise...after a few seconds shock and suprise gave way to curiosity, so I asked my burning question. I asked if her church allowed that type of covering. She responded yes that she was permitted to wear any type of covering she choose. Again I was surprised, I had never heard of this. Every conservative church I had attended had either required the hanging veil or the bonnet style covering. My interactions and short conversation with her really made me think. Why was it so important to be identifiable to other anabaptist groups? Does the type of covering really matter that much? I
Many times I fear that we are so focused on the type of covering that we forget what the covering stands for in the first place. I often wonder if regulating the type of covering can often do more harm than good. We see a certain type of covering and from there we assume we know what that person believes and does not believe based on the type of covering they wear, instead of talking and getting to know what they believe. Isin't it enough to just be identified as an Anabaptist Christian? The Bible never tells us what type of covering to wear, how big or how small. If it needs to have strings or not. It simply tells us as ladies to have our heads covered. Many times I have encountered ladies who went to a non-plain church who covered and often times their conviction about covering seems stronger versus those who were raised in a conservative church and raised with the covering. I think as Christians we need to get back to the basics of the covering and remember why we cover and who and what it points to. So the next time I get the Amish question or the "whats that thing on your head?" question instead of giving a breif answer that allows them to put me in a box I will simply reply with "I am an Anabaptist Christian who believes in covering" and see where the conversation takes me. :)