{Defined By Faith} Having a Polished Image

I try so hard to be “polished.” To be polite, respectful, kind, gentle. I try to be well-dressed and punctual. I work hard at giving to others and serving. I want to be authentic…I always have. Yet, in the midst of that genuine heart and authenticity – I still strive to be “polished.”

You do know what I mean, don’t you? That image – that reputation we want to have? We want it to be “together.” Polished.

Yet I was reminded today how easy it is to let that goal become something bigger in my life than it should be. How it can rob me of the joy and freedom of simply being “me.” I don’t always have to look or feel polished. It’s okay to sometimes feel frazzled. It’s okay to be tired or feel irritable for a while. Life rubs off on us and we’re going to deal emotionally with it at times.

I remember reading about how Zaccheus hung out in the tree. Not exactly politically correct, was it? And do you remember hearing how Mordecai tore at his clothes when he heard the Jews were to be extinguished? He didn’t care about image! Why should he? He thought he was to die! But I’m betting that he would have done it anyway – for he didn’t appear to be the kind of man who cared overtly about how others viewed him.

Many other men and women in the Bible had “unpolished” moments. Moments, where instead of worrying about how they came across to others, they simply let themselves be in the moment. Feel the moment.

I can still care about my reputation as a follower of the Lord. I can still have goals and dreams and try to carry myself with style and class. As long as I don’t value them more than I value people and following God’s commands. As long as I don’t allow the image I want for myself to become the focus point of my life.

I don’t always need to be polished. It’s okay that people don’t see me with every hair in place or with jeans that I purchased at the “uncool” store. It’s okay that I laugh too loudly sometimes or that I cry in public. For I am human. And as important as we all like to feel that we are….we are still ordinary. Normal.

Being polished is overrated anyways. It’s not nearly as fun as loving the differences in people and the uniqueness that life often throws our way. Being polished doesn’t give us joy – it only puts unnecessary weight on our shoulders – demands of being someone who will always have to strive to be perfect; never free to be imperfect.

Image has a goal line that always moves further out of reach. Once you get “there” you have to get to a new “there.”

It’s good to remember that, when we put so much emphasis on being polished people.

Dionna is best known for starting the EmphasisOnMoms.com ministry. She has since then developed her own blog “Beauty in the Storm” (http://beautyinthestorm.blogspot.com) and is pursuing freelance writing. She also loves to travel with her family and love on others for the Lord.