Some say being skinny is beautiful, but others see weight as a marker of beauty and vitality. Some say being completely natural and of the earth is beautiful, others say decorating yourself or wearing all sort of accessories and makeup is beautiful? Who's right? Who's wrong? Who do I listen to when it comes to satisfying the desire of my heart to be beautiful?
None of them? All of them?
In all reality, I really shouldn't listen to any of them because none of the "experts" have the final say when it comes to beauty. None of them made beauty in the first place. None of them are the author, originator or perfector of beauty. None of their opinions really matter any more than mine do. Shoot, if I can just make up what is beautiful then how about this: receeding hair lines, chicken legs, and little pooch bellies are now the true mark of beauty! And I am the fairest one of them all!
But it doesn't work like that. Beauty is not up to me. Beauty is not up to the designers. Beauty is not up to those with the airbrushes. Beauty is up to God.
And the last time I checked, He thinks you and I are pretty hot!
Psalm 45:10-11 - "Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear: Forget your people and your
father's house. The king is enthralled by your beauty!"
Song of Solomon 4:7 - "You're beautiful from head to toe, my dear love, beautiful beyond
compare, absolutely flawless!"
You see, God does not make or surround Himself with ugly things. And we are told that He has created and purposefully placed every part of us, He has invited us into his table, and He has vowed to be our spouse and our lover. So you put two and two together.
The accounts of creation make it clear - you and I are the apex and climax of the whole world. You and I are the most glorious and most beautiful part of all that God has made. According to God, you exist, your freckles, your height, your hair line, your chicken legs, your everything, to make Him look glorious and beautiful. You are the canvas that displays in the best way possible the greatness and beauty of God. Your salvation is meant to put the glory of God's beauty and grace on display before the whole world. Your resurrected body will echo God's beauty through the halls of eternity. It doesn't matter what anybody else might say (especially the John's of this world) - You are the beauty of God. You are so beautiful.
Let that sink in. You are the beauty of God. You are so beautiful.
You are the beauty of God. You are so beautiful.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall...
Remember the rest of the saying: "Who is the fairest of them all?"
But who cares?! Well, we do! Just look at the sheer amount of time, $, and energy we spend trying to enhance our appearance and become more attractive and beautiful. We want to be the fairest of them all! Whether it's beauty salons, beauty magazines, beauty tv programs, or gym memberships, diet plans, and plastic surgeries we are a people driven by a desire for beauty.
But how are all of those "beauty aids" working out for us? Do all of the cosmetics and accessories make us feel truly beautiful? If so, then why are so many women so depressed and dejected about their appearance? Why do so many women hurt themselves, starve themselves and literally tear themselves apart over how unattractive they feel they are? If so, then why are so many guys so insecure about themselves, hiding behind the weight bench or the designer clothes trying to convince others, and maybe themselves, that they are attractive and desirable?
If all of those beauty aids satisfy our desire for beauty, they why do most of us feel so ugly?
And yet, we still ask the question, "Who is the fairest of the them all?"
And it really comes down to this: Whose voice will I listen to when it comes to answering this question? Whose opinion will I value and whom will I seek out to affirm or reject my beauty?
Those in the entertainment industry? Those who twist and alter reality? Those who change the way a woman looks with an airbrush and a computer program? Or how about people like Ralph Lauren or Michael Haney (Editor of G.Q. magazine)? Or how about a boyfriend or girlfriend?
Since when did they become the ultimate authority on beauty? What makes them know any
more about beauty than anyone else for that matter?!
Whether it's all of the things that I can slap on, smear in, inject, or digest, or the fickle opinion of others who are just as desperate and thirsty for beauty as I am, there has to be another way. There has to be a better way to taste and know and become beauty.
But who cares?! Well, we do! Just look at the sheer amount of time, $, and energy we spend trying to enhance our appearance and become more attractive and beautiful. We want to be the fairest of them all! Whether it's beauty salons, beauty magazines, beauty tv programs, or gym memberships, diet plans, and plastic surgeries we are a people driven by a desire for beauty.
But how are all of those "beauty aids" working out for us? Do all of the cosmetics and accessories make us feel truly beautiful? If so, then why are so many women so depressed and dejected about their appearance? Why do so many women hurt themselves, starve themselves and literally tear themselves apart over how unattractive they feel they are? If so, then why are so many guys so insecure about themselves, hiding behind the weight bench or the designer clothes trying to convince others, and maybe themselves, that they are attractive and desirable?
If all of those beauty aids satisfy our desire for beauty, they why do most of us feel so ugly?
And yet, we still ask the question, "Who is the fairest of the them all?"
And it really comes down to this: Whose voice will I listen to when it comes to answering this question? Whose opinion will I value and whom will I seek out to affirm or reject my beauty?
Those in the entertainment industry? Those who twist and alter reality? Those who change the way a woman looks with an airbrush and a computer program? Or how about people like Ralph Lauren or Michael Haney (Editor of G.Q. magazine)? Or how about a boyfriend or girlfriend?
Since when did they become the ultimate authority on beauty? What makes them know any
more about beauty than anyone else for that matter?!
Whether it's all of the things that I can slap on, smear in, inject, or digest, or the fickle opinion of others who are just as desperate and thirsty for beauty as I am, there has to be another way. There has to be a better way to taste and know and become beauty.
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