Beautiful Scars

Our bodies are good story-tellers. The lines around our eyes, our lips, and on our foreheads, they tell us and others where we've been and what we've done. The gray hairs tell others we are experienced. The liver spots remind us that we are all mortal.

Old people are beautiful, but it's a different kind of beauty than the one we've grown familiar with.

You won't find our senior citizens waltzing down the red carpet with paparazzi following their every step. It's not that beauty. And that's a good thing. That beauty isn't always beautiful.

Beauty takes on a whole new meaning. Their age is inspiring. Their experience is humbling. Their wisdom, that's what is beautiful.

It's a testament to their endurance. It tells us they have lived and seen death. They have been happy, sad, excited, fearful, strong, and hurt. It tells us they have been human for a long time.

Unfortunately, by and large, wear and tear on the body is considered unattractive in this culture. So much of everything is about looking younger, trimming down, and hiding blemishes.

See, there is a major difference between being healthy and being perfect, and lately, our culture has blurred that line.

Gym memberships and workout plans are good to a certain point, by lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease, and making us feel better about ourselves, but when we stumble into vanity and over-indulgence, it can affect our lives and those around us.

From the moment we are conceived, we are trained to be ashamed of our imperfections, rather than to embrace them as something unique to us as individuals.

Creams are used to hide bald spots or give us a fuller hairline, others are used to remove hair in certain places.

Oils and other exotic ointments are sold under the impression that they give us "perfect" skin.

Birthmarks and other discoloring are hidden with gobs of makeup.

The message is the same: you are not quite good enough as you are. Perfection is attainable, though, and if you call right now, you'll get 2 Oils for the price of one. Get that clear, flawless skin you've always dreamed of.

It's a constant battle. Endless visits to the tanning salon, manicures, pedicures.

The way I see it, "inner beauty" is just an overused catch phrase. We'd like to think that inner beauty is what we're all after, but if we could look ourselves honestly in the mirror, most would admit that "outer beauty" is what drives our culture.

This is in the television we watch, the music we listen to, the billboards we read, advertisements, magazines, everywhere. It's ubiquitous.

This isn't necessarily one individual's fault. It spawned from avarice. It is the result of a corrupt system.

How do we throw some sand in the gears? Is that even a possibility? Are we too far submerged in this habit?

I don't think the answer is simple. And it will take a lot of concerned, unified effort. But those in charge of informing and entertaining the public have a huge responsibility.

Instead of beautifying prima-donnas with pretty smiles and wavy hair, let the bulk of our time cover our heroes with crooked teeth, big ears, and undesirable bodies. Give them the lion's share of screen time for their actions and beliefs, not their appearances or unhealthy relationships. Cast the Miley Cyrus' of the world off into the fringes.

It's hard enough as it is for everyday people to face our ideal body images. It's a culture that says that women should have tiny waists, but full chests and backsides. Men should be as brutish and primitive as possible, all the while sporting a perfect smile and full head of hair. It's not realistic, and it's not healthy.

Burn victims are some of the most pitiable people. The experience itself is painful beyond description. Their outwardly appearance is disfigured permanently yet they still feel obligated to meet the standards of today's ideal appearance.

The stigmas take a toll on me, your run of the mill average young guy. I can't even imagine what life would be like through their eyes. Seeing that reflection. A reflection that reminds them what they cannot be no matter how hard they try.

But that reflection is beautiful. Not the beauty we've become familiar with, but a different kind of beauty.

Firefighters, war veterans, and just ordinary good Samaritans doing extraordinary things, these are our most beautiful people.

The scars and grotesque burns are just the bubbling over of compassion and bravery. Inner beauty incarnate.

These are beautiful people. These are beautiful scars. Hear them sing. They are worth listening to.