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| "Before," obviously... |
I am going out on a limb here by posting an unkept, untouched-up self-portrait to hear your response. How important is beauty and personal upkeep? To what degree of first impressions is weighted by self-presentation? What about secondary and tertiary impressions? How do you initially respond to someone after you have met them for the first time? What if there was a vast difference between degrees of self-presentation? Beyond brushing your teeth and showering, why do you do what you do in general before leaving the house for the day?
Just to save a bit of face, here's my "after." Sheepishly, am I so self-conscious that I must quickly come to my personal defense??? Boo! It's the same person, through and through~hopefully! Which one would you rather receive and why? Think naturally, not piously. How does the Law of Natural Attraction fit into the heart of a believer? Should it? Is that even real? Where does grace fit in? Truth?
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| "After," ...it's hopeful? |
How does beauty affect you? I am not discussing vanity or character, I am talking about self-presentation and reception by others. What attracts or repels other people? What about different spheres of influence? Does beauty affect influence? What is affluence?
Wouldn't it be interesting to go clothes shopping with me in my "unkept" state~sweatpants and t-shirt for added texture? What type of service and response might we expect? Shouldn't that clerk just do her job if she's a professional? Why won't she wait on me while I thumb through her racks of designer jeans? Isn't there a flirty, ruffly top to match those skinny-legged dark jeans? (I wish I could wear those...NOT! Cute, yes, but they don't look very comfortable!) Where is she? Doesn't she know I have a wad of burning bills inside my frumpy pocketbook? What's a girl gotta do to get some attention? Why is she ignoring me? Plausible Julia Roberts syndrome, for reals?
Would you tell me if I had something caught in my teeth? open zipper? a running snag in my pantyhose? eyebrow my lack of discretion? What holds you back to keep me from embarrassing myself? Is it all up to me to figure it out? Yikes! If so, I'm in trouble!
Honestly, I can't make it on my own. I need help everyday. Hands-down, without a doubt, all that I am is because someone showed me the way! Thankfully, ninety percent of the time, it was sandwiched with L-O-V-E! Spiritually, emotionally, and physically! God has lavished my "growing-up" with tremendous ladies in every season of my crazy life.
Thank you, Lord, for opening my eyes and heart to being a better me. Strangely, though, less like myself, more like You. Kept or unkept. Hopefully!
"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."
Luke 2:52 NIV
