I’ve always been fascinated by mannequins – those life sized dolls that grace the display windows of high fashion stores. My fascination began in 1987 (that’s a really long time!) when I watched Mannequin, the romantic movie in which a life sized doll came to life and helped save the career of the stylist that dressed her up for display every morning.
In reality, mannequins are lifeless, breathless, emotionless dolls. Their central purpose is to stay put and be beautiful. The aim is that their beauty would attract passers-by who would then wander into the stores and buy the clothes the mannequins are wearing so that they too can be beautiful. The most popular fashion retail outlets have fanciful displays which attract many customers. It’s like the more stylish the mannequins, the more profitable the business.
My own fascination with mannequins actually stems from the very notion that they may come alive at night! After watching that movie, I would lay in my bed imagining that I could be a mannequin – beautiful and lifeless by day; adventurous and vivacious by night. Could I be dressed in the best and beautiful clothes? Made up expertly and perfectly coiffed? Poised to attract with a permanent smile? No pain, no worries, no tears? Could I be so attractive that others would desire to be like me? And then when everyone had gone to bed, could the real me then surface? Could I throw off those beautiful clothes and wear something unpresentable? Face scrubbed clean and hair in disarray? Examine my fears and inspect my emotions? Could I cry? Could I laugh? Could I feel? Could I be real? Could I still be loved even then?
It’s one of those eating your cake and having it moments. Every little girl grows up longing to be the girl – the most beautiful girl in school, the one with the coolest clique and dishiest boys. Personal recognition is an important factor of life whether we admit it or not, and attraction is the major factor in garnering a following. Ultimately, being attractive becomes an important everyday ingredient in our lives. As we grow from boyhood to manhood, girlhood to womanhood, attracting and retaining relationships become more important; some of us have developed skills and tools that help us very quickly attract people to us, but can we keep them? When they get past the form, do they stay?
Human nature is different from mannequin nature. When God created us, the bible says He made us by His spirit (form-like) and transformed us by His breath (life-like). We started out mannequins, but ended up alive! We can therefore never be satisfied nor attract and maintain relationships by tucking our God-breathe personalities beneath the façade of a lifeless and beautiful form. He came to give us life and that life in abundance - that’s a lot of life – and life in any dose can be messy!
Some people like me because they really know me and others don’t like me for the exact same reason, but God really, really loves me. He is the one constant that I can count on to see who I really am – form or spirit - and love me always. And He’s taught me that groomed or not, tears will stream down my face – from joy or pain. I’ve learned to laugh out loud in high heels and dance until sweat ruins the expensive hairstyle I just fixed. I’ve learnt that the really red lipstick suits me but it doesn’t make me more truthful and expensive designer clothes are really beautiful but don’t give me a compassionate heart. I am attractive in a fitting buttoned down suit, but is He pleased with the condition of my heart while the world looks on the outside and applauds?
So, because time is racing by and I’ve only got this life to live – I am going to live abundantly and authentically. I am going to be me! I am by-passing mannequin nature and human nature. I am seeking God’s nature.
He is the One who really matters. He is the One who can change my soul. Isn’t He the Potter? If I am messy, can He not mould me into a beautiful vessel and one with a purpose? If I gaze at Him each day, He assures me that He will transform my form and spirit. If His light shines in my heart will I not be beautiful inside and out?
Tell me, what can be more attractive than this?
…that whenever we turn to God, He removes the veil from our eyes and suddenly we are face to face with Him and recognise that God is a living, personal presence and not a chiselled stone. And when God is personally present there is no longer a constricting legislation between us. Our face shines with the brightness of His face and so we are transformed, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him… (2 Corinthians 3:18 message version rephrased)
IDO – March 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment