A few weeks ago some pictures were sent to a group chat I’m part of with my previous team, Jehovah’s Pride. My previous teammate, Mhairi, sent the most epic World Race transformation picture I’ve ever seen (I’d share it on here but she’d kill me). This picture showed an image of her before The Race and a picture of her 6 months into The Race. This naturally sparked a fire to the rest of JP to share our own transformation picture. Here’s my own submission.
As I was putting together this collab, I realized I was bummed I didn’t have a more rugged picture of myself to outdo my friend. I even vowed to take more pictures while I was sweaty and when I had gone a few more days without showering. And that’s when I realized exactly what The Race, actually what God, is doing to me. He’s redefining how I see beauty.
Don’t misunderstand me. I still value good hygiene and caring for my appearance in a respectful way. But a noticeable change is happening.
Before The Race I was consumed with making sure my hair was done well and looked good daily. I refused to go out into public without makeup. And oh sweet cheezit’s if I was bloated or felt like I had gained weight I couldn’t focus on anything else. To put it bluntly, I was extremely self-centered and self-focused.
Now it’s month seven and we’re in India, the hottest country of this route (I hope). I have been able to shower almost every day since being here but that doesn’t really matter. As soon as I walk outside I begin sweating and all my hygienic efforts are wasted. Putting makeup on is pointless because it either melts off or I’m sweating too much before I can finish putting it on. I’ve worn basically the same clothes this whole time, all of which have been washed in a bucket and never smell exactly right. And the best part…I couldn’t care less.
Before The Race I drove my friends nuts by always asking questions like, “Do I look fat today?”, “Is my makeup done right/even?”, “Is my hair okay?”. I was consumed with my appearance and how others saw me. All of my confidence was based on my OOTD (outfit of the day). I did workouts just to get the numbers on the scale to go down. It seems so silly just saying(writing) it, and I’m not sure everyone in my community recognized it, but it’s the truth.
Now those questions are slowly being weeded out of my everyday speech. I look at pictures of myself and see a beautiful woman made in the image of Christ. I see a woman who may not be wearing any makeup but is grinning ear to ear because she’s surrounded by great friends in a foreign country experiencing God in new epic ways. I workout now to make sure I can still carry all of my gear and to feel good, not look good. I’m still guilty of choosing to post a group picture after looking at just myself…I never said I’m completely over this self-centered thing. But I’m still fighting it.
God has taught me to value more important things than makeup and clothes. He’s teaching me to value a good heart and a kind smile. He’s showing me His beauty in the trash-filled streets of the slums and in the bug-infested villages. He’s showing me His people, who may be wearing nothing more than rags, but they’re made to reflect the Father and nothing is more radiant than that. God’s definition of beauty is so much different than what mine was just seven months ago. I know my vision isn’t perfectly aligned with His, but I’m thankful He has begun to give me a peak through His eyes.
So, friends, please join me in praying for a life that is no longer self-centered, but Christ-centered. This isn’t a prayer for just myself but also for the nations. Let’s pray for a Church that sees beauty the way God does, not the way the world does. Some pretty amazing things happen when we align our sight with His.
