One of the impressions I had of Manhattan is how easy it is to become consumed with image. Everywhere you look folks are dressed in the most current fashions, perfectly coiffed dos, posh accessories, and that's not to mention the stores. In every direction you see high fashion stores, hip fashion stores, pop fashion stores, and need I mention the biggest department store in the world (Macys)? We wanted to check out the famous Bloomingdales and were horrified to find floors of beautiful things that we could never dream of affording (a pretty dress or coat for $5000). And I thought the GAP was expensive...
I was there all of 4 days and found myself thinking about appearances more than I am comfortable with. I can't imagine battling it daily. It made me realize again how often our culture tries to sell us the idea that image is everything - the idea that our appearance is prime. And really a lot of religion also sells the same idea. For example, how often have you assumed someone's spiritual life based on their appearances? (a reminder that the appearance of godliness means nothing to God - he looks at our hearts!)
Now that I am back in my southern country town I do not face the same obvious battle with image. But maybe that is a little scarier because it can creep in without me realizing it. How often do you or I base our value or self worth in how we LOOK rather than who we ARE? And what message do we send our children when we so often oooh and aaahh over how cute they are rather than proclaiming glee in their character?
I for one am so glad that God does not value me based on my appearances. What about you?
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