AJ and a LATTE

At Schlitterbahn after solo and ensemble has been quite the eye-opening experience. First it never ceases to amaze me how large God’s imagination really is. Have you ever looked at the human body?  There are so many variations!  One of the things that most amazes me is how people appear when they think no one is watching them. 

I love to sit and watch as the people walk by. Some of them have no idea of their beauty.  So many young women don’t understand that sometimes the sexiest bathing suit is the one with more fabric. The human body is beautiful, but the imagination can create so much more!  Leaving more to the imagination creates an illusion, mystery. Allowing your temple to be respected is the most beautiful of all.  I am saddened by the way some of the young women dress, or don’t.  The disrespect they are welcoming by creating the image of an object is heartbreaking.  I cannot believe that these ladies dress this way out of confidence but to draw attention.  What are they missing that they need that attention from someone else? What can they not find within themselves that requires either the jealousy of other women or the lust of men who are not their own?

Then I see the ones who are so obviously self conscious. The girl who is wearing the bathing suit that obviously doesn’t fit covered by layers of tshirts, shorts, and insecurity…the boy with acne who feels so self conscious he wears a long sleeved shirt just so someone might not see the scars.  Oh how I want to let them know that their beauty comes from much deeper within. How I want them to see themselves through the lens of who God sees.  How I want them to understand that beauty is what comes from within their souls and comes out through their smile, their kindness as they wait in line. 

Of course, there is “the other side.” Holey Moley!!!  Did your mama see that suit? If she did, she needs a talking to!  The body is beautiful, until it is used as a weapon or a tool.  Cover that up!  I don’t understand the concept of putting one’s self on total display.  Again, I defer to the sexiest suit is the one with more fabric.

Now I look at a group of beauties who are so unassuming.  Their bodies have flaws, but they are covered appropriately.  They have an innocence about them as they run and play with their friends. They are concerned with the fellowship over the attention they could muster.  The healthy body image is evident.  Some have skirts, some have two piece, some have tanks, so boyshorts.  What a healthy. lovely place to be.

Oh that we could be as innocent and carefree as the little guy that feels like a million bucks in his new Spiderman swim trunks or as beautiful as the little little girl with her new princess tutu suit.  They could not care less of others’ judgment or scrutiny.  They have no fear.  To live life with that confidence and sweet naivety.     Jesus told us in Matthew 18:3 to live as children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  Once we have become jaded by this fallen world, that innocence is stolen.  Today, as I sit here and watch these people, young and old, pass by, my prayer is that they all find the innocence of a child.  I hope they find somewhere they can be authentic and not worry about the trappings of fitting in or being left out. 

May your authentic beauty shine through and may you have the confidence of spiderman trunks and that princess tutu suit, because friend, you have a beauty of which you are not aware.   Others can see what you cannot.  Look at your reflection through the looking glass of the Father.

Until next time…