Ashes for Beauty

In general, scars are not thought of as attractive. 

And why should they be?

I have some scars.  I think I have a chicken pox scar on my face left over from childhood.  Then there's that little one I notice on my knee.  I've now had two laparoscopies  (one this summer and one ten years ago)--each of which left their marks.  I remember after my first surgery, my mom said something that surprised me: "Be proud of your scars!" 

Be proud of my scars? What?

We aren't usually taught to be proud of the not-so-lovely.  We want to hide the less-than-perfect. 

My mom is so right.  Be proud of your scars.  Scars are proof of life. 

Same with emotional scars.  They are proof that a life has been lived. Those are the really scary ones to let people see.  And yet, they are the key to our human connections.  So maybe, just maybe, there is beauty in the ugly. 

Even knowing this, we (I) still gravitate toward the allure of perfection.  Even though we know that we know that we KNOW it's a facade.  We still want to attain it.  Capture it.  Vulnerability isn't sexy.  Or is it?

I know that when someone appears to have it "all together,"  I'm less likely to feel comfortable with them.  I'm certainly less likely to have any sort of real connection with them.  So, in my opinion, vulnerability is a sure sign of strength in another.  And that is more beautiful to me about a person than any other single thing. 

In Christ, everything is opposite from what the world teaches us.  It's an upside-down kingdom.  The last will be first.  The greatest must first become the least.  So maybe there is beauty in what is first thought ugly.  Maybe scars are actually the most beautiful thing about a person.  Maybe we shouldn't work so hard to hide them.  Maybe we should really take Him at his word when he says he will trade ashes for beauty. 

Yes, I have scars.  Everyone does.  And I wouldn't change one.