For today's blog I thought I'd include a piece I wrote for "The Scrawl", a graduate student publication from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. It's about beauty and the contrast between what our culture emphasizes and what Christ defines as beautiful. (see below). I was at Marshall's yesterday looking for some running gear and I saw the movie 'Stepford Wives' (first version) on sale (didn't buy it, but thought about it)... it reminded me of the modern version of the film and the pressure for women today to be 'perfect', to look a certain way, and all the increase in sales in plastic surgery. It's the never-ending search for that 'perfect' face, body, hair - whatever... it's so empty and sad really. For me personally, I want to be a good steward of what God has given me - take care of myself - i love to play tennis, golf, volleyball, kayaking and other sports - and yes, it's a good discipline for me to run in the morning too. I want to stay healthy and have the energy to do what God calls me to do. And yes, for those of you who know me know that I like style and fashion too (it's all about the 'look for less $'). I do know what it's like to strive to look a certain way and often times spending so much time creating a mask to hide what's underneath - the pain, the loneliness, and even shame, I've been there. But make-up (as wonderful as MAC is), Botox treatments, and all of that can't do the trick - those are just surface applications. God wants to go deeper so that the healing He brings to our soul will illuminate through our faces.
I still model and act in Chicago but being grad school - my schedule doesn't allow too much time for that right now - but as I write this I remember the women I'd meet and even the men - the competition and how each person would check each other out - not in a 'oh, i think you're pretty or handsome kind of thing' but rather - 'how do I measure up to her?' or for the guys 'how do I measure up to him?' We as humans, in our fallen state and brokenness, do so look at the outward appearance but God still and always will look at the heart... How is my heart today? How is yours?
We can spend time in His beautiful and holy presence, adoring and worshipping Him - and we come out transformed... a little more looking like Him because we have been gazing at Him. Moses experienced the incredible presence and glory of God and had cover His face because his countenance was blinding others... but we don't need to hide our face. The world around us needs to see, the beauty of God in us and we can shine His glory with unveiled faces.
"Father, go deeper in me today, there are still stones that need to be unturned, there are still parts in my heart that need your transforming truth and redeeming love, I want to be transformed more and more from glory and glory. I want to drink from Your living water today Jesus, no one else and nothing else can satisfy the deepest longings in my soul. I love you."
Who Decides What’s Beautiful? written by Michelle Lenz
She runs frantically chasing the latest trend and beauty craze the world offers hoping to fill the emptiness inside, hoping to cover the pain and emptiness of life.
She works, she strives as she thinks… one more botox treatment, one more diet, and one more shopping spree then I will feel wanted and I will be loved…I will find true beauty.
In all of her striving for temporal and worldly things, she neglects her heart and forgets that You love her perfectly, You give her life meaning.
She is too busy seeking for his gaze, his look, his eyes to glance her way and to affirm her worth and beauty each day. She longs for him to notice her and to take the time to be with her. While all this time You call to her,
“Come closer, don’t’ be afraid My child, Come closer put your hand in Mine.”
Yet in her restlessness and search for significance and beauty she says, “No!” and runs out the door giving her time, her money, and her hopes for identity to Mac and Bobbi Brown.
With Your unrelenting love, You call to her and say, “I love you with a love that never ends, and I’m calling you to come closer once again.” You call to her again and say, “Come to Me and I will give you rest. In Me you will find Your true identity.”
Finally she surrenders and gives You her heart and to her surprise she finds true beauty as You touch and heal her broken parts. As You take her deeper in Your love she finds in her heart treasures from above. She begins to see that You make beauty from the ashes of her life. You give her rest so she doesn’t have to strive.
Your eye and gaze is always on her and You are always with her. You bring glory from her brokenness and give her life in place of death. You satisfy her thirsty soul and You call her Your own.
Jesus, You decide what’s beautiful.
No comments:
Post a Comment