beauty

Beauty. One word. What is the first thing you think of when you hear this word? Physical appearance? The inner soul? I'm willing to bet that most people who say, "He/She is so beautiful," are referring to the person's physical appearance. But what is this mirage? And what does this say about humanity? Other words used to describe attractive physical appearance are hot, hansom, sexy, cute, pretty... the list seriously goes on and on! But when I say beauty I think of the person's inner being, the person's inner soul. Yes, there are people I think are attractive in appearance, but how much of this outer appearance reflects who they are as a person? I have seen very attractive men who catch my eye, but as soon as I hear them start "swearing like a sailor," or smoking, or whatever else turns me off I question my reasons for seeing them as "attractive" to begin with. What the eye sees is deceptive. You cannot tell the beauty of a person by what he/she looks like. Like "love at first sight?" Sorry, but this is lust at first sight. How would you know you love a person just by looking at them? Think about it... hmm...

Focus on that inner beauty a person possesses. My friends are truly some of the most beautiful people I know. The way Brittney looks at humanity and wants to help save the hurting women in the world. Or the way Tess (Theresa) literally wants to change the world through teaching and medicine. Look at Laura who wants every child in the world to have an education and travels all over the world evangelizing and teaching. Or Harmony who moved back to Zimbabwe following God's call to work with her church and teach music to kids. Or the joy that Anthony Eder shares through his words, actions, and smile. Rachel is moving to Asia to learn more about business and speak Mandarin so she can communicate with different cultures. I have never seen anyone love the way Aimee loves and is open to different ideas. Betsie's humor and friendship have meant more than anything to me. Camp and my SIT crew have brought more joy and beauty to my life than anything else. These are just a handful of beautiful people. I could go on about how each of my friends have touched my life and have changed my world.

The most beautiful person in the world is the person that follows God's call and strives to serve Him in every way possible, loves others more than he/she loves him/herself (the selfless person). This person loves so genuinely and is his/herself in all circumstances. S/he is not afraid of what others think, and has the confidence to stand up for what is right (the confident person). I am far from the most beautiful person in the world. Yes, I try to follow God's call and strive to serve him in every way possible. I definitely don't love others more than myself all the time, although I do try my best to put the needs of others first. I wish I considered myself a highly confident person, and I wish I could be myself in ALL circumstances, but the reality is this is the ideal, and no one can live up to being the ideally beautiful person. Why even try to be perfect when, guess what? We can't be! God is perfect. He is the ideal. He is beautiful!!! More beautiful than we could ever imagine or we could ever see! I have never seen God face to face but I know the day I do, I will fall even more madly in love with Him, for His love and inner beauty is so passionately selfless, and so ridiculously perfect and genuine. I never knew I could feel so much love. Most of all, God's beauty has touched my heart in its deepest place... the corners that could feel nothing at all until He brightened and lightened them with His compassion, forgiveness, joy, peace, trust, grace, BEAUTY, faith, hope, and L♥ve.

So, people of this world, look for the beauty of people that is rarely seen nor tapped into. The inner beauty of the outerly unattractive person (outerly is not a word but it works here). The inner beauty of everyone for that matter. And especially the beauty of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

What inner beauty do you possess?

How does your outer appearance and inner beauty differ? Of others?

When have you judged someone strictly based on outer appearance?

What beauty do you recognize in others that others miss?