Appearances

I wore some lipstick and mascara on Friday, which is an unusual event for me. But it was a big event for work, so I thought it would be worth a little extra sprucing up. What's funny is that wearing makeup tends me make me look older, rather than younger. This is something the teenagers are going for, I know, but I think I might almost be to the age where I want to look younger, rather than older.

At any rate, it brings up an interesting idea about appearances. At first glance (so to speak), appearances shouldn't matter. There is a story about God choosing David to be the next king of Israel, and in the process he chastises the prophet Samuel, saying, "I look at the heart, not the outward appearance." The spiritual is internal, not external, and obsession with clothes, hair, makeup, and all that, becomes a kind of prop for the inner self - a way of finding worth without developing character and an attitude of service.

On the other hand, appearances give us an opportunity to show care. As Ann Lamott put it in her most recent book (I forget the name, but it was good!), you can care for the insides of thing by paying attention to the surfaces. A made bed, a straightened living room, clean dishes, a neat yard, all speak to care and love for self and other.

Jesus came to earth in a body, not as a mist or a ghost. This is an affirmation to me of the goodness of the earth, of bodies, and of appearances. Attention to the outside should not overwhelm attention to our faithfulness, kindness, and contributions to others, but care for our bodies can be a part of caring for our hearts.