Divine Death Sentence: clothing metaphor version

Timothy Fountain at North Plains Anglican wrote an interesting piece about what he refers to as the Divine Death Sentence. In it he refers to the verse Col 3:5. This led me to contemplate the whole section of Col 3: 1-14 more generally, and to reflect on the use of both the metaphor of death and the metaphor of changing clothes used there.

Colossians 3: 1-14 Rules for Holy Living

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Tony Crisp's Dream Dictionary has some good material about clothing as metaphor in dreams:
changing clothes symbolizes changing one's mode of behavior, role or mood,
undressing is revealing one's real character and a move towards intimacy,
new clothes are a change in attitudes, new feelings about the self.
This is applicable to the verses, as Paul is talking about the old ways of behavior that must be put aside and the new attitudes that must be put on.

I had a dream a few weeks ago in which clothes figured prominently. In one part of the dream I was deciding what clothes to get in order to change my outfit and kin another part of the dream I was concerned about taking off my old dress to put on a new gown. I was afraid the old dress would get stuck around my elbows going over my head. I was asking some women to help me.

I think this dream was about what I would call the Divine Death Sentience: clothing metaphor version. The dream dictionary also has something for being unable to get clothes off -- too cautious in relationships; difficulty changing attitudes or self-image; self-protectiveness; avoiding intimacy. Of course, in my dream, I was looking for assistance and asking for help. In the dream I was looking for assistance with the difficult project of taking off the old self and putting on the new self.
*
*
*