Why What You Look Like Really Matters a Lot

We are late, as usual, and I rush, rush, rush applying concealer beneath my sleep deprived eyes.

She stands there, a tall, gorgeous five, framed by the white painted wood that leads to her bedroom and asks me a brush-stopping question:

"Why are you putting on makeup, mom? You are already beautiful."

Why, indeed. A brilliant, simple, deep question. Why, when we are short on time and I'm rushing up a sweat to leave do I take an extra minute for my appearance?

I smile into her stormy-skied eyes streaked with sapphire blues. Ebony dipped lashes blink up and down a sweet, bronze-highlighted curl.

"I am putting on makeup for the same reason I put on different clothes, so how I look won't be a distraction."

* * * * *

What is appropriate, righteous, beautiful, modest... can be a church splitting question. It can be a family splitting question. That is to say: it can be a painful body-splitting question.

"So in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."

~Romans 12:5

And making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit is so important... but what do we do when in faith and honesty and sincerity we can not agree on this issue of what it means to be holy and blameless in our appearance and how we present ourselves to the world and to fellow believers?

I work as a professional makeup artist and hair stylist, and after I have prepared a bride for her ceremony and she looks in the mirror I often hear something like this: "Wow. Thank you! I look beautiful, I wish you could come to my house every morning..."

My response? I smile and look her straight in face "No. YOU are beautiful, I am just putting a frame on the masterpiece."

Am I suggesting women should have a makeup artist and hairstylist everyday? Absolutely not. Am I suggesting women should wear makeup every day? Absolutely not. I also do not suggest putting on a beautiful gown for everyday life. But for the celebration of two becoming one, our earthly picture of Christ and the church, in our time and place, these things are a perfectly acceptable, fitting frame.

And the frame matters. So much.

WHY?

Because the frame can highlight or subtract from the masterpiece artwork that is the Spirit of Christ in you.

I go without makeup or styling my hair much more often than not. I do not dress up, or even attempt a "put together" look often. I am a stay at home mom most days, and there is no point to spend a few extra minutes on those things for my children who would wrinkle and stain and head-love away all my efforts within the hour.

So what is the point?

To bring glory to God. This is the ultimate goal of my life, and through my appearance is just one other avenue.

And this does not only apply to makeup, hairstyling and clothing. Facial expression is another way-too-often-underestimated way that we communicate the True Beauty within us.

The Deceiver knows how distracting what the eyes see can be. To so many, all they see is the physical world, they are completely unaware that we war against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

So I try to eliminate distraction whenever I can. That means around family or friends who might be distracted by makeup... I wear very little or none at all. By family or friends who would be more distracted by my tiredness or dressing like a bum, I spruce up a little. The goal is to be a frame that displays Christ in me, the Hope of glory. The same frame is not always appropriate in all settings.

I am running a race in this life, trying to run in such a way as the get the prize. Being in strict training requires various attire. Different seasons in life bring necessary changes to this as well.

That means, with my best understanding of God's will and a clear conscience and an active faith, I have become all frames to all people that I might draw some to the Artist.

And this one body of Christ has many members, and the members do not all have the same function. Not all frames were meant to look the same.

God made us each unique, in our particular and very individual clay frames to display different things about His infinitely glorious beauty.

In this time in history, in this location of the world, how can you best eliminate distraction and draw attention to his glorious beauty by being an attractively fitting frame?

And please don't think I'm referring to only the physically young. Antique frames are some of the most beautiful.

And if I want my frame to have great worth in God's sight, I make it my aim to please Him by adorning myself with the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.

I am a frame in progress, inwardly being renewed day by day. Until He transforms my lowly body to be like His glorious one, I pray to be as wise as a serpent, and as innocent as a dove.

Working on wearing the habit of a frame that glorifies God with my sisters from A Holy Experience...

730 Days with You

Dear Husband,

We've come a long way, you and I.

And you still hug me hello and spin me 'round, anything to make me smile.

It's hard to believe that we made those vows before God and loved ones two years ago today. I remember the craziness of planning the wedding in six weeks, so we could fit it in the short time frame Joel and Melissa would be home from their work with the Peace Corp in Mauritania, Africa. I remember how you worked for hours on a way to secure the tent for our reception because I wanted it...

I look around this home that you have worked over a year on, so many hours, so many days, working to make me happy. I am more than happy. And while I love the space you've made for us, it is your devotion and tenderness and playfulness that bring me such deep joy.

It is your reading voice in the moments before we go to sleep, your loving texts throughout your workday, the way you always seem to say "you are beautiful..." when I'm feeling most unattractive, that woos me deeper into this comfortable, safe, oneness with you.

But most importantly, you draw me to Him. The One we said we knew was at the center of all things good, of all things successful. You lead me so well, humble me by example.

You are so quick to forgive my many faults, even before I've asked, and move on, never holding grudges against me. You are just as quick to ask for forgivenss, never too proud to say you were wrong.

You ask about my heart and mind and listen well and long. You pray for me, with me.

You share your thoughts with me, even when you know I won't understand(you are so smart you amaze me!).

You are not too busy for me. You encourage me to slow down. I am recognizing what a gift, what a blessing, what a God-thing that is.

God has given me 730 amazing days of oneness with you. I hope we have thousands upon thousands more!

I love you.

~The Wife

When You Need to Physically See God's Glory

The lessons half-done, the dishes piled high, the laudry strewn, and the children fall into their resting places for a time of much needed quiet.

Even this good-busy leads to hunger, the rush that squeezes out time for what is needed for strength, renewal, replenishment.

I eat and chew on the Word, but I am restless. The hands are steadied but the shake of weakness in my soul remains. I'm only halfway through the day.

Half a day can be so long.

And I am worn from looking at human made things. Tired to the bone of good books and lessons, pencils and paper, prepared meals and dishes, and this comfortable, messy home.

I want out. These walls that provide so much protection and comfort can also become a prison for soul-starving.

So I do what I know, straightforward girl that I am, and go outside to look into the sky. For didn't He say that the heavens declare His glory? This physical glory, the good work of His very hands this day, this is what I need to see.

I think of how He says that the eye is the lamp of the body, and if my eyes are good, my whole body will be full of light. What do my eyes see all day long, day after day, shielded by my wealth? I am not exposed, as so many are all around the world, to the overwhelming wonder of His daily glories that beam, and breeze and pour down.

Under His domed sanctuary, billowing art of blues and grays, I stretch my hands and soul in praise. "It is beautiful, Lord, beautiful."

And I remember this day, when He layered thick these wonders, making me remember Him, All Consuming Fire, often for our sake hidden in cloud and smoke, some day to be seen face to face.

I commit to practicing the simple, daily faith practice of looking up.

Seeing His glory brings torrents of praise and life without worship emaciates the soul.

And the sun from His tent keeps running his course, rejoicing, a bridegroom coming from his chamber.

And I smile into the warmth and breath deep of this glory, this physical wonder of oxygen in, CO2 out.

"You are beautiful, Lord, You are beautiful."

You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

~Psalm 63:1-5