No longer young and not that pretty...

I've been stalking the flickr scene as of recent. I am LOVING all the cool photography people are posting and the creative challenges you can find within.

One day I stumbled upon this group.

The challenge itself seemed simple enough.

Take off your makeup. Take a picture. Then post. The guidelines say you're supposed to do so without the help of editing. Yet by the looks of the posted photographs, I'd like to think that those people didn't really read the instructions. (Either that or they are just incredibly beautiful...or they've got really cool cameras...or they know how to make the most of their lighting...or ???)

I should probably stop with my excuses now and get back to my point (if I even have one).

So last week I was all inspired. I thought of how I really don't wear that much makeup so it shouldn't be that big of deal. I thought of how I live in this place and rarely "make myself presentable."

I was not afraid. This would just be the raw...*real* me. No big deal.

No big deal for some, maybe!

Let's just say I've had this picture for over a week and am still hesitant to post. But that's definitely me, alright. With no makeup. (And apparently no visible eyelashes, either.) Shhh....

But what I've found most challenging in completing this task has very little to do with my looks. (OK, that part is somewhat challenging. I'll spare you all the details of my critical self, but I thought I should insert utter honesty here.) I see this "me" everyday.

The challenging part has come in the form of questions.

Questions like:
Why is it hard for me to let people see this? Why do I care? What am I afraid of? A lot of you have seen this "bare" side of me before. And some of you have even seen worse (i.e. when I'm sick).

It's hard for me to unpack it all, really. There's so much here. So much I'm thinking about and growing in.

But I feel it for myself....and for His Body. This need to be seen. To be real. To come without pretenses and still be accepted. I see it in the world around me. This desire to be loved even when we are at our worst. To be known for what's underneath all those layers.

Imagine what kind of world we would live in if everyone would literally "take off their makeup."

Frankly, I think we'd all see how very frail and broken we really are. Each and every one of us. We'd see those freckles...invisible eyelashes...aging lines...etc. We'd see that no one really has it all together. And that we are all just a little bit afraid that who we are will be based off of all that we are not.

I think it's a lie that Satan has used for a very long time to deceive God's children and His Body.

And so this is my challenge to you, my faithful readers...

Take off your makeup. (Literally and figuratively)
Go ahead.
And not just for yourself. But for those around you.
Post a picture. Share your heart. Be real.

The response might surprise you.

I'm growing more convinced the vulnerability begets vulnerability. And that *this* is exactly how God wants it to be.

May we encourage each other today in our strengths and our weaknesses as we grow together to become more like Him...

(Of course, every now and then, a little makeup can't hurt. After they've seen the real you.) ;)