For some dang reason, I was really thinking long and hard about veils today.

They are something we don’t give much attention to… as a general rule.  In fact, I can’t remember the last time someone asked me, “Have you seen any good veils lately?”

I started wondering when they first started … and why.

I found a lot when I did a little research.   Veils have been around a really, really long time.  The first recorded instance goes all the way back to the 13th century BC.  That’s BC.  That’s first recorded instance.  BC.

And that equates to a long time ago.  The record can be found in an Assyrian legal text from the 14th to 13th century BC, which restricted its use to noble women and forbade prostitutes and common women from adopting it.

Homer, in his Ancient Greek musings… frequently wrote of them.

They have had many different meanings too.  Everything from mourning a death, to entering a marriage, to aristocracy… to hiding one’s identity.   Different religions have a variety of references.  And of course, they are not only used to cover people…. they cover things.  Tabernacles…  and such.

I, personally, am not a big veil wearer.  They seem to get hung up on the hood of my sweatshirts.  And frankly, I have not had much luck finding one that really goes with any of my running shoes.

In fact, I think the last time I had a veil on was for my Holy Communion in the 2nd grade.  And from the photos… it doesn’t look like much of a veil at all.  I think my Mom probably pinned a piece of nylon scrubbing cloth to my head…. from the looks of it.  You know.  The kind that came “free” with the purchase of Palmolive Dish Soap.

I can remember trying to get out of the whole dressing up thing that day… to no a-veil.

But back to it.  Sometimes… I think… we don’t physically wear them.  But at times we put them on emotionally, or psychologically.  It happens during those times when we don’t want someone else to see something about us.  No matter what it is, that we don’t want them to see.

I’m not saying this is a bad thing.  In fact… I think sometimes it may even be necessary.  Maybe it is best to keep certain parts of our being… or our thoughts… in our own private space.

Some people seem to be very transparent.  But I am not so sure about that…. either.

And then there is my dog.  The other day, Ollie asked me if she could wear a veil.  I told her of course she could.  I don’t want to stunt her creativity.  But I asked her why.

She responded, “You told me I was part Jack Russell and part Peaking Nose.”
I just shook my head… “Goofball.  I said Pekingese.  PEKINGESE!  Not Peaking Nose.”

She kept it on till dinner time.

.

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.”  –   Flora Whittemore
.