My idea of beauty was transformed today. I’ve always thought that true beauty is on the inside, but yet we (or at least I) always look at others and see outward things that define one’s beauty. As an extension of that, we look into the mirror and pick ourselves apart seeing what we dislike about ourselves and also those things we might like about ourselves.

Today, I sat and listened to three beautiful young women (Abbey, Laura and Maria) talk about how they spent their college spring break on a mission trip to Ecuador. They were in very poor areas of the country and had an incredible experience to share with us. There was so much they talked about in such a short amount of time that was truly transforming to the way that I think.

Laura talked about how she had to disconnect from our ways here in America and overcome vanity right away. They were in a poor country. They didn’t know if they would be able to shower during their trip, it was very hot and they were sweaty all the time and she said they knew they smelled because of all these things. Vanity had to go out the window right away.

Once vanity was squashed, Laura proclaimed that she experienced pure joy. A joy that was not based on material things, but instead based on personal relationship and love for God, not for self.

The girls talked about how no one really has mirrors in the parts of Ecuador they visited. It was interesting to hear that. Not because I thought it was interesting that no one had mirrors, but instead because of what that represents. Here in America there are mirrors everywhere. Walk into almost any bathroom and there is a mirror. There are mirrors in our cars, in our houses, in stores, everywhere. We constantly see our reflection. This reflection of ourselves allows us to be focused on ourselves constantly.

If you didn’t look in a single mirror for an entire week, you probably wouldn’t think or care much about how you look. You’d focus less on yourself and more on the people around you. You wouldn’t be looking in a mirror trying to make your hair and makeup just right or comparing yourself to someone else. You wouldn’t worry so much about those things or the way your outfit looks. You would just be. The lack of the mirror (and focus on self) would allow you to love differently, more deeply, more genuinely, more fully.

You cannot see true beauty with a mirror. True beauty radiates from the heart.

Maria shared that the true beauty from within allowed them to focus on the important things and how they could give more of themselves. She said she couldn’t help but think about something Mother Teresa once said, “I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.” Maria talked about how it’s different to be a pencil in the hand of a writing God rather than just a pencil on the desk. It’s one thing to be present, but to be willing to be put into motion is deeper level of giving of oneself.

WOW! Talk about things to work on!

Reflect inward. Stop looking in the mirror to see yourself. Instead look in the mirror only to see Jesus. Put yourself into motion for God, doing whatever it is He is asking of you. Be the writing pencil of God’s love letters to the world.

Who do you see in the mirror? Are you allowing yourself to be a pencil in God’s hand?