I am SO glad that one of my petunias wrote in with this question!
I have glasses (must wear all the time) that change to sun glasses in the light. What I hadn’t considered is — when I’m leading an event outdoors or in a bright place, my eyes are hidden and I look kind of silly. Should I get another pair of glasses without the transition lenses to wear for these events?
I’m a seminary student and a 66-year-old woman doing social justice work. So I’m not the preacher but I am the leader from time to time.
Love your blog.
Dear (Future) Rev. Foster Grant,
A wonderful question and one that deserves some discussion.
Quite simply, it is entirely inappropriate to wear ordinary sunglasses when officiating outdoors, except if light sensitivity makes it impossible for you to read or participate without discomfort. PeaceBang is a constant wearer of big sunglasses and often desperately WANTS HER SHADES for sunny weddings or funerals, but it is simply not acceptable for us to obscure our eyes unless we have a medical reason for doing so.
So to answer your question, Ms. Foster-Grant, it would be good for you to invest in a pair of non-darkening glasses, although your are of a mature enough age chronologically to get away with it, and your transition lenses are undoubtedly not communicating the message, “Oh my GAW, I HAVE to get in my limo for a bottle of chilled bubbly the SECOND this dreary event is over!”
For those of you who require tinted lenses, please avoid shades that make you look like Ozzy Osburne or Phil Spector or this guy:
He looks nice and friendly but if he was the pastor offiiciating at my funeral I’d reach out from the grave and snatch those distracting shades right off his face.
A nice amber tone looks just right:
As for ministers who think it’s okay to keep the sun off their faces with “fun” floppy hats, baseball caps or visors, turn them in immediately to the PeaceBang Protection Program.
I find this problematic. The wife of one of my mentor’s when I was still in school was a nurse for an otomologist (so she was not a Dr but she worked for/with one). She told me repeatedly that anytime you are outside in the sunshine you should be wearing eye protection. (I was told this often b/c I wear glasses and don’t have auto-tinting and therefore often forget my clippy things that go on my glasses) She said every time you step into the sunlight with unprotected eyes you could be doing damage you will regret later in life.
At this point what is more important the health of our eyes (which are an important part of what we do as ministers) or the ability of those around us to see our eyes and make that eye to eye contact?
One of my brothers-in-law is an opthalmologist. He is adamant that I should not be in the sun without sunglasses–the DARKEST possible. I am extremely sun-sensitive, and have had a couple of health episodes that have made me even more so. Should I be explaining to people why I wear them (sometimes, my teaching takes me outdoors with my students)? Or why, on a very sunny day, I sometimes wear them INDOORS in the Cathedral (usually this is in the summer, when the Sunday sung eucharist is in the nave, where there are mostly clear-glass windows)?
Have to disagree here. Health and safety takes precedence, even if it’s common-sense health and safety and not ‘note from the doctor’ health and safety.
I am a migraine sufferer, and bright sunlight is a common trigger for me. I am very careful to wear my sunglasses, even when the sun isn’t too bright, to ward off any chance of bringing on an episode of brain-crushing pain. I have done an outdoor wedding, but thankfully was in the shade under a gazebo on a cloudy day. If another couple requests an outdoor wedding, I would explain well in advance about my need for sunglasses, and ask them to pass it on to anyone else who might be easily offended by such things.
If you want to get a pair of glasses that are untinted for these occasions, might I suggest ZenniOptical.com You can order glasses online with a copy of your script from your doctor. I like to change my glasses day to day to fit the occasion or to match my outfit, and I got 8 pairs for $150. The glasses are affordable and of good quality. I also suggest them to folks on a limited budget or with children because they’re inexpensive. I know I sound like an ad, but I truly adore them!
Well, I like Steph’s idea of explaining first. And if you’re a migraine sufferer, I think you have to take care. But how often are we officiating outdoors? Fifteen, twenty minutes — half hour max — maybe a few times a year? I still won’t wear shades for those few occasions. For those who still choose to obscure their eyes, is there a style of shades that would look more “This isn’t a fashion thing” than others? Because I do think the style makes an overall impression. All of my sunglasses are sort of big and glammy.
I agree with PeaceBang – unless you have extreme eye sensitivity or other health-related condition (like migranes), the rule should be to skip them for special occasions as these.
Peacebang, I’m wondering if you’d consider any sort of sun-protecting hat suitable for officiating at an outdoor occasion. I sunburn easily — even with strong sunscreen — and if I’m standing on a beach or a boat for any length of time without a hat, I’m going to turn lobster red. Ten minutes is okay, but an hourlong service at midday is most definitely not. [Sure, and what a great challenge! Do you have a photo of one you have in mind or have already used? – PB]
My sunglasses are small, like my regular indoor glasses–really not covering much more than my eye socket. Not a fan of the insect-eye super-large sunglasses.
So they don’t scream ‘I’m a celebrity who’s being conspicuously allergic to being recognized, but I’ll be really peeved if you don’t recognize me.’ They’re just dark regular glasses. When I was shopping for specs last time, I was having a tough time deciding which would be my indoor glasses and which would be my sunglasses. I would wear my sun frames for regular wear. [Bingo. They sound perfect. – PB]
I just got a pair of transition lenses for the first time and almost wrote to you myself to tell you that I am finding them very frustrating. I got them because I am always losing or breaking my cip-on shades but am now very annoyed at how often I am finding that the dark tint is interfering with ministry. It isn’t just at the graveside (or possibly at a summer outdoor wedding). Even at the door after worship they are a hassle–I stepped outside every so briefly and then stepped back inside to face parishoners with my eyes behind dark glasses (yuck). It takes so long for them to transition back to clear that I find myself taking them off while I wait, which given my eyesight, is not a good idea!
I would not get another pair of these unless I was no longer in the parish.