Defining Moments

Gorgeous to God

How much emphasis do you place on appearance? How about your own appearance? Do you tend to determine your personal worth or value based on how good-looking you think you are? How about the value of others?
I must confess, I have always been self-conscious about my physical appearance. Of course, I had some help with that. A lot of kids think they have big ears, but simply have slightly larger or moderately more protruding ears that average; ears they will easily grow into. My ears set the standard for big ears. They were not only remarkably huge in comparison to my head; they stuck out at perfect right angles to my skull, like handles on a periscope. Or—as one girl cleverly pointed out in sixth grade—like handles on a sugar bowl. The cruel and frequent reminders of my auricular anomaly gave me a keen awareness of—and hyper-sensitivity to—how I looked.
In addition to the ear thing, I was incredibly skinny. Imagine entering high school at 5’ 10” and 110 lbs! Runway models are accused of being anorexic with that ratio of height to weight, yet I couldn’t seem to gain no matter how many protein shakes and peanut butter-banana sandwiches I wolfed down between meals. Of course, the stick-like frame didn’t do much to camouflage the radar dishes that appeared to have attached themselves to the sides of my head.
I literally used to pray that I would grow to at least 6’ 5” in height. That was partially to have a body that was on par with the massive scale of my ears. Thankfully, God answers our prayers, sometimes “over abundantly above all we ask or imagine” and I grew to 6’ 8”!
Though the long chapter of ear-related self-consciousness is behind me, I still have a residue overemphasis about what’s in the mirror; always aware of the flaws. Nonetheless, I see a culture around me that has far surpassed my obsession with the outside.
James Dobson, in his book Hide or Seek, identified physical appearance as the “gold coin” of human worth in our society. Good looking people get more breaks and undeserved preference than their less attractive neighbors as early as nursery school. “Cute little 3-year-olds enjoy greater popularity among their peers.” And the emphasis on looks grows with age.
Oddly enough, some of the best looking people are the most insecure about themselves. Perhaps they lack what Dobson says society treats as the “silver coin” of human worth: intelligence. Or, their looks have caused a burden they can’t handle. Or, they don’t see themselves as other do. The bottom line is that whether it’s our own looks or the outward appearance of others, ultimately it is literally a facade for the real person; the one God sees and values.
You probably know the story of Samuel, the prophet, tasked with selecting a king for Israel. He saw potential in several of the sons of Jesse because they were strapping, handsome guys. God directed him to the scrawny, “ruddy” son, David, tending sheep. Why? “…the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam. 16:7).
In Scripture, we see God utilizing man’s inordinate obsession with outward appearance to accomplish His plans. This should not be confused with God favoring the pretty over the plain. He still looks at the heart. Even Queen Esther, elevated to royal status in Persia only because of her beauty in man’s eyes, was selected by God for her courage and commitment.
If only we would spend as much time working on those qualities as we do primping for our next public appearance, the world might be enticed to look past the exterior and be attracted to what really matters about us.

“…let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” ─1 Peter 3:4 nkjv