This week I had the privilege of attending two nights of a fashion event. A sweet lady had extra VIP tickets and thought of me (twice.) I thought VIP was reserved for famous people 😎

Long tables full of elegant edibles: bacon-wrapped dates, a lovely fruit platter, smoked salmon, grilled shrimp, crackers with fancy purple cheese (blueberry Chèvre I'm told) and much more lined the front walls. One table was dedicated solely to chocolate!

Being in a fashion saturated event, I was repeatedly reminded of one thing. God's view of beauty looks very different than the world's. 😊 There was clearly a "mold" to which the models were trained to conform. The walk, the facial expressions, the pose - the ladies executed their jobs to a T. Even those in attendance felt the need to rise to the beauty standard. Fake lashes, perfect lipstick, and gorgeous dresses (maybe a little shorter or a little tighter than normal.) We all want to look and feel beautiful, especially at a runway event!

But does all of this really equal beauty. I was looking people in the eye, watching for a hint of a smile, attentively searching for signs of abundant joy, fulfillment, and life - I found only a few. 

I left the gala feeling uneasy. What was supposed to be a fun girls night out had me conflicted on the inside. There wasn't anything inherently wrong with the evening, but my soul knew something wasn't right. 

So I came home and did a brief search/study on what beauty means to God. 1 Sam 16:7 immediately came to mind. "Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart." So how should I "fashion" my heart? Turns out we were already given the answer. 

Clothe yourself with: 

• Strength and dignity - Prov 31.25
• Love - Col 3.14
• Humility - 1 Peter 5.5
• The Lord Jesus Christ - Rom 13.14
• Honor and majesty - Job 40.10
• The full armor of God - Eph 6.11
• Christ - Gal 3.27
• Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience - Col 3.12

Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Prov 31.30

True Beauty starts on the inside, and then manifests itself externally in our character, actions, personality, and shines through our eyes and smile. 

With a renewed perspective, I was able to thoroughly enjoy the second evening. I walked in with confidence, knowing that my worth was predetermined by the Lord. (I had only spent 10 minutes slipping into my glittery dress, throwing my hair up, and freshening my lipstick in the office bathroom- but God had already prepared my heart.) 

God is constantly orchestrating the details! My original seat assignment was next to a mother daughter pair with their friend a few seats down. Wanting to sit together they asked if I would switch places. Though hesitant at first, I agreed. (No idea why I'm so weird about seat assignments.) 

I'm so glad I moved. I made a new friend! After an hour of effortlessly chatting with the lady seated next to me, the runway show began. We applauded the cute styles, giggled at the pieces we could never pull off, and discussed the ins and outs of the design details - having created pieces of her own, she was very knowledgeable. 

From my new seat assignment I could also catch a glimpse of the models' faces as they headed backstage. After a perfect strut down the runway, full of attitude and style; smirks and smiles spread across their faces moments before they disappeared backstage. Whether from joy, relief, or inside jokes, I'm not sure. But it brightened my evening to see the natural joy on their faces. (I'm waiting for smiling models to be the "in-thing.")

One of the cutest moments came during the second-half when little girls entered hand-in-hand with a matching adult companion. The crowd erupted as the adorable little children started down the runway. You can't compete with the authenticity of a child. 

Interesting how differently I perceived both evenings. Walking in with a fresh Biblical perspective, and surrounding myself with encouraging Christ-centered conversation-- it's as if the things of the world didn't stick as well. (Like the stars and dots in Max Lucado's children's story - You Are Special.) I left the event with grace and positivity that was grossly lacking a couple evenings prior... thankful for the lessons learned, challenged to not conform, and encouraged to do fashion differently.