Real Beauty: Perception Vs. Reality

There are days I look in the mirror and see only the scars on my forehead (including this big gash that runs at an angle like something a character would have in a Raiders of the Lost Ark or a pirate movie). It’s not a beautiful face but fortunately I’ve not let that drive my self image. What we see or perceive in the mirror doesn’t correspond with who we really are (H/t Valerie). People see us differently and God sees us differently.

The classic story regarding outward beauty is that of Samuel’s choosing King David. David’s dad parades all his brothers before Samuel. You can imagine the brothers with puffed out chests as they try to look impressive. At this point God tells Samuel, “Do not look at this appearance or at the height of his stature (at which point all 5’6” of me whoops), because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees for man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Our culture puts emphasis on exactly the opposite of what God looks at. Yet ‘charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting.’ The challenge for us is to see ourselves through God’s eyes and the eyes of those that love us. That is the true measure of who we are.