So, I got an email from an old friend who had heard about some work I have been doing lately in association with International Justice Mission. He wanted to say that he was impressed with not only the cause, but even more so with the fact that I was taking the lead and doing things which I would have never done in the past when he was around. He wanted to offer words of encouragement about how much I have grown in the past few years.

In my response, I reflected on the people and events that have influenced me, and one of the more unusual factors was the kilt.

Not so long ago, I was a less than social person. I wasn't exactly an introvert, but I didn't want to deal with people. I wanted very much to be invisible, and to only interact with others on my own terms. And when I did, I was usually pretty bad at it.

At the same time, I wanted to wear a kilt. I waited quite a while to do so, because I knew that people would react. One day, I realized that I was being a wimp, and decided that I should just do what I want and to hell with everyone else. So I got my first kilt, and within a matter of months had all but given up pants.

I went from being nearly invisible to being the center of attention. I wanted to be left alone, but suddenly every random stranger was talking to me and asking questions. I had to deal not only with the jerks, but the much harder issue of talking to people who were just trying to be nice, and didn't realize that they were driving me nuts.

Over time, went from being defiant and sarcastic to being friendly and understanding. I found myself using fewer and fewer witty remarks and more and more honest answers. I slowly began to come out of my shell, lower my defenses, and actually began to behave at least somewhat like a moderately normal and healthy human being.

Of course, there were many other factors that helped me grow in many other ways, but the kilt did play a key role in helping me to find my spine, and develop some sorely needed social skills.

Recently I have begun taking a very active leadership role in my IVCF chapter, taking the initiative in forming a partnership with IJM, and leading a Bible study. In the past I had never thought I was capable of being a leader, that I lacked some esoteric quality required for the role. I was terrified of responsibility, and dreaded any job that involved working with other people. And I could barely deal with strangers in passing, I never would have been able to lead a group of them, especially with all the added pressure and complexity that comes with the topic of the Bible.

It's somewhat bittersweet really, as now that I am taking a much more public role, I am forced give up my kilt much of the time, because it can get in the way when I am representing an organization or a cause, and apparently, its not all about me and what I want. Sure, in my free time I still wear them, because they are comfortable and awesome, but on the other hand, I don't need to wear them anymore. They have served their purpose.

I can honestly say that I would not be able to do these things had I not started wearing a kilt. And this is only the beginning, as I start on a path to bigger and better things. And though there will probably come a time when I am forced to relegate kilts to weekends or perhaps only rare events, deep down I will always be that "kilt guy" because it has become a part of me. I have become a new man. I have a new purpose. I have a brighter future.

And that my friends, is how kilts changed my life.