A Virtual Blindness Epidemic

I was sitting quietly on the couch, working diligently on my laptop. The television was on, for no other reason except some background noise in the house.

Although I was focused on the task at hand, the words of a commercial caught my attention.

The spokeswoman for the commerical is advertising a new beauty product, and the first words that come out of her mouth are "Inner beauty is important, but not nearly as important as outer beauty."

I actually hit rewind on my cable remote to see if that is what was actually said, and to my dismay, it was.

Maybe I am just making more of this than needs to be made, and I imagine the comment is meant to be one of a facetious nature. However, I wonder how many girls, and women, will take this to heart.

If you ask me, this statement is indicative of how our culture actually thinks, and part of the reason why so many of us think we have to be beautiful, to be beautiful.

The topic of beauty is nothing new. There have been plenty of articles, talk show hosts, and news anchors talking about the impact that the quest for physical beauty has on the hearts of women, young and old.

But that does not stop the retailers and media from trying to make us believe that.

Unfortunately, I have to admit that I actually do use the product that is advertised in this commercial (purchased before I heard the tag line, of course).... and you know what... I do not look any different!

More importantly, I do not feel any different. Granted, I do actually like this product, but it did not change who I was, improve my life, or even remove those little lines on my face that I would love to see disappear forever.

It was all a lie.

A lie that we so often believe, as we get caught up the mindset that we have to look perfectly thin, perfectly put together, perfectly fashioned and perfectly perfect - in order to measure up. In order to be good enough.

The question is.... who are we trying to measure up to? Our friends? Our co-workers? Our neighbors? Our family members? Celebrities? That retouched body on the front of the magazine? The covergirls face?

The truth is, we probably will never measure up, according to the world's standards; and even if we do, we will not feel that we do. There will always be something new that we want to change, or an insecurity of some sort that hangs in our hearts, keeping us flailing in a pool of inferiority.

The comparison trap that we get so tangled up in, not only puts on the fast track to discouragement, but also causes a state of virtual blindness - a disease of the mind that has become an epidemic in our country.

Definition of virtual: Simulated; performing the functions of something that isn't really there. Opposite of real or physical.

Definition of blindness: the inability to see

So - virtual blindess is the inability see what is real.

Real - is what God created, in His image.
Not real - is what we try to create with products, diets and career goals.

Real - is who we are in Him.
Not real - is who we are according to society's standards, or other's opinions.

Real - is the beauty that we exude from the inside out
Not real - is the definition of beauty according to the media

Real - is living up to God's measuring stick, and no one elses.
Not real - thinking that we can do anything to make us more valuable in God's eyes

Are you able to see the beautiful person that God created you to be, or have you been searching for ways to measure up to those around you?

Does your opinion of the person you see looking back at you in the mirror, line up with what God's Word says about that person?

Psalm 45:11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.

Deuteronomy 14:2 for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.
We have the power within us to fight off even the worst case of virtual blindness.

Take a moment today to embrace the real you. The 'you' that God sees. The treasure that God loves, and is enthralled by.

The unique you that God knit together in your mother's womb.

The real you.

(Watch this video below. Shows the process of a real woman, being turned into something that is not real. Which one do you find yourself trying to measure up to? Hmmmm. Something to think about.)

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