For Your Eyes Only

In the past week I have read, and am currently re-reading more slowly, a book that, as all books worth reading do, has got me thinking. One of the innumerable points to ponder has been the issue of beauty. The authors claim that one of the three primary purposes of women is to unveil beauty (and thus, for women, the seemingly unending question of, "Am I beautiful?").

Oddly enough (and I do genuinely find this odd) I am not sitting here questioning if I am beautiful. No one would elect me to grace the cover of any magazine, there are some zits Ia’m not pleased about, and about ten pounds around my hips that I’d be delighted to part company with, but for all that, I know that I have beauty to unveil. I’m not suggesting that I’m "perfect," but I know that, inside and out, I am beautiful.

But what is beauty if there is no one to see it, to hear it, or to know it? Even among those who have heard my music, few ask for more. I’ve been writing these "blurbs" for eight years, and have never had more than about thirty people on my emailing list. My company is not sought after. I have beauty to unveil, but no one to unveil it to.

Just a few weeks ago I was sort of griping, in my thoughts, and I had barely formed the thought, "why bother practicing my music when no one wants to hear it?" when I knew the Lord was saying that He did. So as I was thinking about unveiling beauty, the question arose: what if God Himself is the only one to ever really see, hear, and know my beauty in my lifetime? Can I be okay with that?

It’s a big question, and one not to be taken lightly. We so often use the phrase, "living for the Lord," but what if we really are? What if He’s the only one who ever sees our beauty? Would I still wear nice clothes and put on earrings and search until I find just the right words when I’m writing a sentence and practice until I can play and sing my song fluently? Is He worth that much to me? Would I, could I, nurture and unveil my beauty just for Him?

Amazing: I realized I could. In fact, I felt a remarkable peace and comfort in the absence of pressure to find someone else to appreciate my beauty. Odd indeed.

In keeping, I suppose, with His character, God added a surprising postscript to my ponderings.

I went on-line to send out a blurb from my stock, and found an email—the first of its kind, in the almost four years since I released my CD—from someone I’d never met. Someone had loaned her my CD; she found it calming, and wants to buy one for herself, and one for a friend she is sure will enjoy it.

Positively, absolutely stunning.

If this message has been forwarded to you, and you would like to be added to Charissa’s mailing list please send your request to info@charissaschalk.com. Thank you.