Another Year of Choices
By Barbara Dahlgren
If beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, what do I see when I “behold” myself in the mirror? Usually I see an older, slightly overweight, flawed individual whose gray roots are badly in need of a touch up. Most of us feel we fall short because we live in an airbrushed society obsessed with physical beauty. It’s bound to influence how we look at ourselves and how we look at others.
If we try to set a guy friend up on a blind date, the first thing he might ask is, “What does she look like?” We might say, “She’s nice, intelligent, well groomed, has a sense of humor, and just won the Nobel Peace Prize,” but he would probably still say, “Sure, but what does she look like?” Let’s face it, magazines don’t run issues of the 50 wittiest people in the world; it’s always the 50 sexiest men or 50 most beautiful women.
It’s true that beauty is subjective. Different people have various ideas about what they consider beautiful, for beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Unfortunately, most of us “beholders” have been bombarded with digitally enhanced images through television, movies, and magazines. Media has determined what is beautiful and we have subliminally been programmed to buy their idea of beauty. To them the phrase “inner beauty” is just another way of saying “uggglllyyy!”
Although difficult, we need to think of beauty the same way God does. Nowhere do we see God using outward appearance to determine someone’s beauty. In fact, he cautions us against using such criteria for judging another’s worth. When God’s prophet Samuel was looking for the next king of Israel among the sons of Jesse, he thought he’d found the right one. Eliab must have been a tall, handsome hunk – what everyone thought a king should look like. So much so that when Samuel gazed on Eliab’s “hunkiness” he said, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” (1 Samuel 16:6)
However, God had other ideas because He said, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.” (1 Samuel 16:7) In other words, it didn’t matter if Eliab was one the 50 hunkiest men in the world and looked like he should be a king; God was looking for something else which he finally found in Eliab’s kid brother David – a lowly shepherd.
God went on to say, “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Try telling that to People Magazine!
Perhaps we should start beholding beauty the same way God does. He’s not looking at a person’s shiny blonde hair, blemish free skin, slim hips, and new Prada shoes. He finds a heart full of the fruit of His Spirit more appealing. (Galatians 5:22-23)
When we look for the beauty in others, do we look for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?
Consider this… When God beholds beauty He doesn’t look for something that is “skin-deep.” He goes much deeper – into a person’s very heart.
Helen Keller said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen…they must be felt with the heart.” Great perception, don’t you think? Especially, since it came from a blind woman who knew how to behold the beauty all around her.
Suggestions for practicing this choice…
God says, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing…” (Proverbs 31:30) Fashions go out of style and external beauty fades but godly character remains. Ask God to help you not judge others based on outward appearance.
Look for the hidden beauty in even the most difficult person. Mother Teresa said, “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.”
Don’t put down those who don’t have the same idea of outward “beauty” as you do. I’m still trying to figure out why Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is considered so beautiful. Mona doesn’t do it for me, but Leo must have seen something there I missed. When others look at us they might not see much, but God considers us a masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)
Ask God to help you to view others as He views them – a child of God.
Ask God to help you view yourself as He views you – His child whom He loves.
