Bill's Blog

I can remember years ago when our country landed the first man on the moon. A joke circulating was that the "astranauts had seen God...and she's Black!" Then in The Shack, of course, God is revealed as a matronly Black woman referred to as "Papa". As a woman, these images help me to see God as transcending both the masculine and femine.

Always been taught God is both man and woman combined as He made us in His image, so I think it's fair to see Him however one desires.  The depictions we see of God and Christ are an artists view of Them.  It is our absolute right to see what we wish in our minds eye.  After all, it's not just looks we get, but temperament too.  We can't be fully made in His image if we do not also carry what He is capable of carrying in His own heart and mind.... it's just that He was able to overcome temptation and give the ultimate sacrifice.  I for one am not always capable of overcoming my faults.  LOL I guess I'm at least willing to admit it and that's when I figure my Lord and Savior are both rolling their eyes, shaking Their heads and "tsking" me from Heaven!  "Will she ever learn?"  Probably not ever completely!  But then, if I were perfect in any way (everyone of use in shape and form are clearly perfect as they are in His image!) I wouldn't need Him to save me!

I have always been taught God is both man and woman combined.  As He made each and every one of us in His image, I think it's fair to see Him however one desires.  The depictions we see of God and Christ are an artists view of Them.  It is our absolute right to see what we wish in our minds eye.  After all, it's not just looks we get, but temperament too.  We can't be fully made in His image if we do not also carry what He is capable of carrying in His own heart and mind.... it's just that He was able to overcome temptation and give the ultimate sacrifice.

I for one am not always capable of overcoming my faults.  LOL I guess I'm at least willing to admit it and that's when I figure my Lord and Savior are both rolling their eyes, shaking Their heads and "tsking" me from Heaven!  "Will she ever learn?"  Probably not ever completely!  But then, if I were perfect in any way (at least everyone of us in shape and form are perfect as we are all made in His image!) I wouldn't need Him to save me! 

This one of those topics that could easily lead me to a rant about how we should all just be thankful for who and what we are.  It upsets me when I hear people put themselves down or say they wish they didn't look the way they look.  Generally, in today's society, this applies mostly to weight.  The entire world seems to be on a diet!  So what if there's a few extra pounds (as long as it's not due to deliberate gluttony, but then again, we are all guilty of that on some level - for me it's shoes!).  But my wish if for all to love themselves just as they are.  We are none of us, the sum of our outer shell.  Christ sees us for who we really are and loves us anyway.  Adores us!  I am thankful that at least the Dove company has started to use real women in it's advertising.  This world today is the cause of many a teenage eating disorder, dimorphic image syndrome, etc., in both boys and girls, and is nothing but trouble for the self worth and esteem of our society.  Since when do depictions of mothers and grandmothers show a skinny butted matron lovingly snuggling her brood?  Never!  So then, why is it that advertisers think that everyone should be a size 2?

Whenever I hear a woman say she doesn't like her body, I remind her of the great artists (Davinci, Monet, VanGough, etc) and ask them to think of how those men painted women.  Those were real women.  They had born children.  Lived life.  They weren't skinny, but beautiful with their rounds and folds.  And most of all, they were happy enough with themselves to pose for the great artists.  Back then, they were the perfect women.  

And it's not just the women who are guilty of this image manipulation!  It has affected the minds of some of the men in our society as well.  Huge Heffner is the perfect example of this and in my mind, has a lot to answer for.  He mainstreamed porn and made it acceptable (how many of us have walked into someone's home and found Playboy just laying on the coffee table like it belongs with Better Homes and Gardens!?!).  He pushed forth his own opinion of what "perfect" looks like and has left 90% of the female population unable to attain such perfection.   The man is sick and he has polluted society with his own definition of perfection.  And lets face it, not all of these girls are even 21 years old!  Then he molds them into perfect little Barbie dolls, has them dress up and do his bidding.  The man is in his 70's and is still living his life this way.  I personally think he is a pedophile with serious "mommy" issues.  I don't think he disrespects women (these girls go to him willingly so what does it say about their mental health and self worth), but I do think he is a sick, sick man who has never grown up or acquired an ounce  of maturity. 

So to all you beautiful ladies out there, whether you are a size 2 or a size 22, love yourself just the way you are.  If you want to loose a few, fine, but don't do it for society, or a man, do it for you.   And remember, you are in God's image no matter what you look like.  Don't emotionally beat yourself up.  Don't put yourself down.  Be proud of being loved just the way you are.  And when your husbands tell you they think you are gorgeous, believe them.  For they are the husbands you keep because they are mature and they can appreciate what real women are.  Real women are full in heart, in soul, in character, with love, and with life and if your bottom happens to be a little full too, then hey, so be it.  So walk tall, smile and remember Queen wrote a fabulous song about Fat Bottomed Girls recognizing that "fat bottomed girls make this rockin' world go around!"