Beyond Words

Disciples believe that Jesus can perform miracles, right? Easter is considered His biggest miracle but why did He choose to keep His crucifixion scars? We live in a world that is fascinated with implants, fillers, and changing how we look but maybe we should be taking a cue from Jesus and accept our scars and flaws as testaments to our growth and our real beauty.

Much to our chagrin and as hard as we try to hide them and apply fading creams to them, most scars never completely go away. Jesus chose to keep His. He had wounds on His hands, His feet, His sides, and His head. Had He been crucified in Hollywood instead of Jerusalem, he probably would have been pressured to fix those wounds and fix them fast.

None of us were born perfect though, so our constant dream of the perfect body, perfectly white teeth, and perfect skin can never be perfectly accomplished. At some point, we need to accept who we are and just try to be healthy.

I don’t know about you, but when I see someone who’s had plastic surgery I rarely think, “Wow, she looks great!” Instead, I think, “Wow, she’s had some work done!” No one is fooling anyone. A 50-year-old woman is not meant to look like a 20-year-old one. It looks fake and why is fake considered good? People abhor fake ingredients in food, fake jewelry, and even fake personalities but fake faces? Somehow they’re okay? I can’t.

This wasn’t always the case. In fact, “plastic surgery” was not meant to be artificial and originally had nothing to do with synthetic materials. The “plastic” comes from the Greek word “plastikos,” which means “to mold” or to “give form.” In its truest form, this type of surgery can do amazing things, none of which includes Botox injections or cheek fillers. Anyone with deformities or true discomfort as well as victims of fires, accidents, and other injuries can be repaired and renewed by the skilled hands of a talented plastic surgeon. But, I totally agree with author Graeme Simsion who wrote in his wonderful “The Rosie Project” book, “It’s an incredible waste of surgical skill – inserting synthetic materials purely to alter appearance.”

The term “plastic surgery” was first used by German surgeon Karl Graefe in his book “Rhinoplastik,” published in 1818. Graefe is considered the pioneer of reconstructive surgery and developed many techniques. He often performed surgeries to treat cleft palates, drooping eyelids, and other medically necessary procedures. He died in 1840 and would probably be dismayed at how the industry has changed.

Today famous plastic surgeons have their own reality TV shows and sport trophy wives to display their wares. We are so focused on being “pretty” but why aren’t we just as willing to be make changes to be pretty nice, pretty smart, pretty giving, and pretty good?

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that for the first time ever, last year Americans spent more than $13.5 billion on aesthetic procedures, up $1.5 billion from 2014. Billion, with a B. Liposuction is the most common procedure, followed by breast augmentations, tummy tucks, eyelid surgeries, breast lifts, rhinoplasty, and overall skin tightening. “Fat transfers to the face” (okay, why?!) are now in the top 10 while buttock augmentations/lifts/implants are also on the rise (again, why?!). And if you’re wondering about Botox and other injectables, well there were more than 6 million of them done. Big money. Big business. Big risks.

What has happened to aging gracefully and respect for natural beauty? I for one pity the formerly beautiful Priscilla Presley who has clearly gone under the knife one too many times.

But it’s not just mature women who are having work done. Young girls are also lining up to have their lips plumped and brows lifted. Take Kylie Jenner for example. She’s been going under the knife to totally alter her face since she was 16 or 17-years-old. What is that skin going to look like when it’s 60? What message is she sending to her millions of fans and followers? Ironically, the one member of Kylie’s notorious family who is actually making a living off her looks, model Kendall, is also the only one who has not had plastic surgery. Go figure.

I bite my tongue as I say this, but maybe we should all take a cue from Kendall Jenner and live in our own skin. Yes, we’re not all as stunningly beautiful as she is, but to Jesus we are. Scars and all.