thing #2: beauty beyond today

Boreas by J.W. Waterhouse

Second sequel to this post.

I know that my Redeemer lives,

and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

And after my skin has been thus destroyed,

yet in my flesh I shall see God,

whom I shall see for myself,

and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

-Job 19:25-27

As it destroys my fantasies about independence, a physical trial like this one also demolishes the confidence I may try to place in outward beauty.

Two truths in particular have comforted me in this less-than-lovely season: 

1) Today's body is passing away, and I'm getting a new one.

2) God has redeemed my soul, and it will stay redeemed whether I look like Helen of Troy or Jabba the Hutt.

On the days when I cannot even remotely fool myself into thinking that I meet this world's standards of attractiveness, you better believe I'm grateful. Grateful to remember that I shall see God-- that the beauty of His kingdom will shine brighter than any cosmetics commercial, and that I will share in its glory with my resurrected, renewed body.