March 14, 2001
i am in a film and religion decal class put on by westminster house. this
past week we watched "American Beauty," a film i thought was decent before
i watched it for the class, and not thinking at all about any christian
perspective on it. but having discussed it in class, i see that there can
be some christian things that can be gathered from this movie. as ricky,
the videotape boy, says in the movie, there is a "benevolent force" behind
everything, and it gives the world beauty, as seen in a plastic bag being
blown by the wind. from this he is able to see how people REALLY are,
that materialism and even our outward appearance is not really important.
and this is something i have a problem with sometimes.
how do i look today? are my clothes alright? what would people think of
me if they saw me do x? man, if people really knew what kind of grades i
got, would they think less of me? etc. etc. etc.
i forget that God made man, made me, the way i am, including the way i
look, talk, and everything else about me. i cannot change that. well,
maybe through plastic surgery...umm...just kidding. anyway, that is
something i cannot change, and when i do cut myself down, see me as having
no worth, arent i insulting my Creator? i think i am. and besides, God
is interested in the condition of my heart, not my outward appearance.
1 Samuel 16:7: But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider
his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not
look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but
the LORD looks at the heart."
so the followup question--how is my heart? is it ugly? is it shallow?
is it dirty? yes. yes. yes. yes. i forget too easily that God gives
me my worth, my value--HE is the benevolent force that moves me, molds me,
perfects me.
steven curtis chapman wrote a song for his daughter Emily to encourage
her, to show her that she is God's creation, and so she is a beauty to
Him. i feel that this song is quite appropriate to all christians, who
don't have to rely on themselves or the praises of others to feel value or
worth.
Fingerprints of God by Steven Curtis Chapman (from the cd
"Speechless")
v1. i can see the tears filling your eyes
and i know where they're coming from
they're coming from a heart that's broken in two
by what you don't see
the person in the mirror
doesn't look like the magazine
oh, but when i look at you it's clear to me that...
chorus. i can see the fingerprints of God
when i look at you
and i can see the fingerprints of God
and i know it's true
you're a masterpiece
that all creation quietly applauds
and you're covered with the fingerprints of God
v2. never has there been, and never again
will there be another you
fashioned by God's hand
and perfectly planned
to be just who you are
and what He's been creating
since the first beat of your heart
is a living breathing priceless work of art and...
chorus
bridge. just look at you
you're a wonder in the making
oh, and God's not through
in fact, He's just getting started
chorus
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