Aesthetics

Once upon a time, there was a young girl of the age of 11. She saw girls her age carry around purses full of make up, wear the latest in fashion, and always get the guys attention. This however was not what bugged her. The only nuisance that was brought about was the constant tears the young girl witnessed from these other girls. The young girl decided she did not want to be anything like these teary eyed girls. So for three years she never used a brush, facial wash and only wore bland colored clothing from second-hand stores.

High School is upon this young girl, now of the age 15. She decides maybe she did want that attention the giggly girls from middle school got from the guys. Oblivious of where to start, she looks to the world for advise. She now not only brushes her hair, but straightens it, curls it, gels it, sprays it, conditions it, and styles it. After all, this is what girls are supposed to do, isn't it?

The attention never comes. It's too late. The damage has been done. Split ends from hair neglect, zits, blackheads, uneven eyebrows, all from spending three years feeling indifferent towards any kind of outer beauty. Now the young girl throws all the blame on herself for being incapable of beauty.

Today this young girl is of the age of 17, almost 18. She is amidst a war pertaining to beauty. Currently she is fully aware of what beauty is and where true beauty comes from. Jesus loves her, the world just wants to crush her. Showdown, at midnight.

Ok so those last two sentences are from a book but I thought it fit fairly well. You might be wondering where this subject came from. Then again you might not be but you probably are now, because I just brought the subject up. Well since you're wondering now, I was thinking about beauty. What the world says about beauty and what God says about beauty. Wiktionary defines "beauty" as: "The property, quality or state of being 'that which pleases merely by being perceived' (Aquinas); that which is attractive, pleasing, fine or good looking; comeliness."

I decided to google "beauty" and see what I got. I clicked "I'm feeling lucky" and my search led me to beauty.com. This website is about everything you "need" to be beautiful. Lie. Phrases I read on the site include, "The world of beauty online," "Best in beauty 2009," and "Outstanding products you can't live without". Lies.

If God made us all, thus making us beautiful, who gave the world the right to provoke that gift from those it sees unfit to behold it?

*My intent is not to bash beauty products but to point out how they do not make beauty.