beauty and the beast

Last week, caught in the middle of an unseasonably cold Arizona evening, I walked into my church. Scottsdale Bible Church has become homey and inviting- like churches do with equal amounts of time and divine appointments. The service I sat through was as refreshing and unexpected as the crisp pop in the November air.

As I sat in my seat watching men, women and children- one after another- share their stories and take a literal plunge to be baptized I thought about the beauty that comes from all things new. A new promise, a new hope, a new life in Christ. Baptism shouts from the rooftops what we formerly were afraid to whisper in isolation: I’m alive in grace, in love, in truth and I want to let you know about it. In the world’s eyes we see a wet rat with baggy clothes and runny makeup, but God’s view is different. He sees a clear vision of his most prized possession, his masterpiece, dripping wet with the love he abundantly pours over us.

Later in the service I noticed a woman sitting in the row in front of me. Her four little children accompanied her. Beautiful, well behaved, respectful- the kind of kids that make mommyhood seem a little less scary. As this woman smiled at her kids, I spotted wrinkles on her face that were deep, ingrained and habitual. These smile wrinkles were like grooves of countless memories painted with joy and laughter that had undoubtedly carried her through a life worth living. The world would take one look at these tiny crevasses and label them the result of a neglected skin routine, but the Living God sees these wrinkles and is filled with joy. In fact, I’ll bet God- in His infinite wisdom- has some wicked smile wrinkles of his own.

I went home that night, washed my face and dabbed my towel around my own smile wrinkles. I thought of the thousands upon thousands of smiles I have lived through and couldn’t help but smile again. I serve a God who loves beauty. He created it. All you have to do is experience baptism Sunday or Arizona at sunset to believe that. But there’s a beast on the other side. This beast has us warped on what beauty truly is and to be quite honest… I’m over it. I’m over the beastly evil in this world that claims we must conform in order to be loved, honored or happy. And I’m ready to embrace the authentic beauty of our maker that transforms us daily to be more like him and his original, masterful creation.

It’s a tale as old as time, tune as old as song, but I’m sitting here today more aware of beauty and the beast. They’re two sides, in constant opposition. And today, I choose God and his everlasting beauty.

Romans 12:2 says:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, perfect and pleasing will.”