"Let not yours be the merely [external] adorning with elaborate interweaving and knotting of the hair, the wearing of jewelry, or changes of clothes; But let it be the inward adorning and beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, which [is not anxious or wrought up, but] is very precious in the sight of God."
- I Peter 3: 3,4 AMP
VALUE: relative worth, usefulness, or importance
There's a very popular saying making the rounds these days when it comes to being successful in the everyday world. Chances are you've heard it, or even said it yourself:
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Simply put, we are told that the best way to be successful is to look successful. We need to put on our best suit, look sharp, look clean, look like we have it all together, from the way we dress to the car we drive, the house we live in, to our neighbors, our jobs, our kids, careers, everything has to be a spotless veneer, polished, flawless, not a hair out of place, as some said back in the day.
Now there's nothing wrong with looking good or putting your best foot forward because you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. It's important to have a great opening act, as some in the world of the stage might say. But once the opening act is over, what do you do for an encore? What about Act 2? Scene 2? What will people see when they look past your exterior? Any new car can look good on the showroom floor, but what happens when it's time to look under the hood or take it out on the road? Here's what I mean:
Think of the parties you've gone to in your life: a birthday party, a bridal shower, a wedding, a baby shower, just to name a few. All these parties have one thing in common: somebody received gifts. And usually those gifts are wrapped with wrapping paper, bows, tags, ribbons, gift bags, tissue paper, you name it, anything goes when it comes to making the gift look as nice as possible when it is given to the intended recipient. But when it's time for those gifts to be opened, what happens to all that wrapping paper? That's right, it gets torn up and discarded so the receiver can see the gift inside. And while everybody "oooh's" and "aaah's" over the gift, it's off to the trash for all that wrapping paper, along with the ribbons and bows. Once the gift is revealed, all the wrappings don't mean very much anymore. The value they once had just isn't there, which reminds me of this:
You see, you can look good, smell good, even talk good (forgive my grammar if it's bad), but that will only get you in the door. Your outward appearance is merely your gift wrapping. As nice as it is, and as good as you look, eventually people will want to know you better, and the only way they can do that is to break the seal, tear off the wrapping, and see the gift you hold inside. All the pretty wrapping paper in the world cannot compare to the true value of a man or woman that the world is waiting to see and appreciate. It's not the clothes that make the man (or woman), it's the man or woman who "make" the clothes, so to speak. They are the ones who give form and substance to everything they do. The value is not the wrapping but the gift inside.
If you try to get by with eloquent speech, pretending to be someone you are not, sooner or later you will drop your guard and the real you is going to be exposed, whether you like it or not. That is not to say that you'll never make mistakes; nobody's perfect, and we all stumble and fall at some point in our lives. If you haven't done so yet, just wait, your turn is coming. What you want to do instead is let people see you as you truly are, and let them know that despite your best efforts sometimes you miss the mark. It's okay, people don't relate to people who think they're flawless; they relate best to people who have the courage to acknowledge their shortcomings because we all have them. People want to find common ground, and gravitate best to those who have the courage to seek common ground with them.
So, long story short, the greatest value you can offer to the people in your life, not your suit or dress, your house or car, your status, position, or even any adornments you may wear on your body, as impressive as your clothing and jewelry may be. No, the greatest value you can share with others is your very being, the real you, the genuine article. If you can do that, chances are best that you will be seen and appreciated for who you are, and you'll never have to fear someone finding out you were pretending to be someone you were never meant to be.
"To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not be false then to any man." - William Shakespeare
"If you tell the truth you'll never have to remember what you said." - Unknown
That's all for now, gotta run. Until we meet again, remember...
Keep it simple.... See ya!
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