What’s the point of ironing a shirt?

Beauty in the ordinary

22 Feb 2026

Sam Chan

What’s the point of ironing a shirt?

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What’s the point of ironing a shirt? When we iron a shirt, the shirt is crisp and clean. You put the shirt on, and it feels amazing. Aaaaaaaaaah.

But after a few minutes, the shirt is wrinkly again.

So what’s the point of ironing if the shirt is only going to stay crisp and clean for a few minutes? Yet, we still iron our shirts. Why?

Because deep down, when we iron a shirt, we image the God who made us.

God loves to bring beauty from nothing—even if it’s only for a short while.

Jesus says that God clothes the flowers in beauty, even though the flowers are here today, but gone tomorrow.

But if God cares so much about flowers, imagine how much He cares for us who are eternal.

Imagine how beautiful God’s going to make us. God’s already working on us now. But when He’s finished, we’re going to be amazing.

(Yes, but if only God could also do my ironing.)

About Sam Chan

Dr. Sam Chan is one of Third Space's national communicators. He is a cultural analyst, theologian, public speaker, author, medical doctor, and karaoke buddy. Sam was born in Hong Kong, grew up and lives in Australia, studied medicine at the University of Sydney, and did his PhD in Chicago, USA. He is a published author of five books.