Saturday, August 05, 2006
Is anybody with me on this?
Last week, the sermon was about priorities - what priorities do you actually live out and what priorities do you wish you had - are they the same or is there some disparity. I couldn't think of much in the beginning but I have been thinking and it seems that vanity is a priority of mine. How embarrassing is that. I spend alot of time thinking about how i look and if i am honest - it rules my life. I HATE it. Its such bondage. Knowing that I am a child of God, loved by God no matter what, I am so grateful for that - and I am moved to act in many areas of my life becuase of that fact - but the vanity is still there. I guess I am admitting to this because - for one, its probably evident to everyone anyway, all true priorities are, but two, I want freedom from it - so I am confessing to....hmm....the internet - I am such a chicken. Anyway, I thought it was a profound thought and I hope to grow in this - maybe one day i will wear no make up, wear old clothes, slouch, and not file my nails and not care at all - I doubt it - but its all i can hope for. ???? I don't mean to minimize and make it sound like something silly, but I don't know if this is one of those "balance" things or if you have to just be rid of it all together - i am thinking God thinks its really stupid and meaningless and ugly - so I should be rid of it - but how, i know not.
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5 comments:
wearing makeup, clothes, and hairstyles that you are comfortable with is not bad, and i don't think that you should be rid of those things all together. the better question to ask is vanity being a priority get in the way of other things that should be a priority--relationship with God, relationship with other people, finances, and healthy self esteem & self image. if so, then maybe reevaluating your priorities should happen, but if not, is it really so wrong to want to feel good about yourself?
i have a vested interest here, i'd rather not be married to someone who slouches and doesn't comb her hair... but like anonymous suggests, i think it is hard for a person to care about how she looks to just stop caring. not only is it hard, i think it may be impossible. But here's what i think could help.
intentionalize the priority.
what i mean is decide where "appearance" should be on your priority list. What is more important than it is? (i don't mean in a general way either, but what in your life do you value more than the way you look, but struggle to put it into practice) after you've intentionalized it, so it's number 7 or something on your list, then fight to keep it in its place.
I say this as if i don't struggle with any of the same kinds of things, which is bunk. i struggle with this issue and many more...for the record.
last word: selfishly, i'm quite thankful i have a hot wife. but i'm more thankful that you are a woman of character, a great wife and mom, and a devoted friend. maybe you aren't doing as bad with priorities as you think :)
When I think if you, Jocelyn, I don't think, "Oh what a vain person!" Dion's right, you have so many other wonderful qualities that people see first.
This makes me think of the priorities we think we have and then the ones we live by. For me they are obviously different and I don't like that.
Maybe coming up with a list of priorities and then evaluating my life and what I do based on that.
Like, I watch way too much TV for the low priority it gets.....
I'm with Matt here...my low priority guilt is all about the TV. It's been on my mind lately, especially as I prepare to add a child to our family. Am I just going to veg out all day in front of the TV when I should be playing with Abbott? I already put other stuff on the back burner in order to spend time not thinking at all. Dangerous stuff that TV. Anyway, Dion and Matt both suggest some interesting points. It's so easy to not stop and re-evaluate our lives. We get so caught up in the day to day that we don't slow down and see where we're at. Thanks Jocelyn, for bringing up something that's been on my mind too!
Liz
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