Beautiful Flaws

I discovered a lot about flaws this week.  A photographer I know with an amazing ability to make wonderful portraits of people made some pictures for my students.  They were some amazing head shots.  The funny thing was that he had used Photo shop and taken away smile lines, freckles, circles under the eyes and more.  Then he accented the eyes with an eerie glow.  I realized that this is the modern way to go but it looked weird.  I couldn’t put my finger on it until I showed the students.  They immediately complained.  These are kids in high school that always complain about the way they look, about certain parts of them that they wish could be changed.  The changes had been made on the photographs and one young girl turned to me and said, "It's not me."  "But it is you," I replied.  "No, it isn't.  There are no flaws, I don't like it."  Here was a simple truth.  We all have flaws and they make us who we are.  We are different from each other and all quite unique.  Here were a bunch of photos that represented a flawless, yet eerie world that wasn't quite real.  The flaws are part of their perfection. Another girl  commented on her freckles disappearing in the picture.  “I hated them as a young kid, but I don’t look right without them.” She said. The same girl commented on the circles under her eyes.  “These are circles that make me look like people in my family, we all have circles under our eyes.  It is how I see my family when they are away from each other.”

I have my flaws, not just the physical ones like being overweight, big lips, etc. I'll admit I have many flaws, imperfections beyond your wildest thoughts.  I have a temper, I like things done my way, I am systematic and chaotic within a moment or two.  I have been called rebellious, wrong, black sheep, different,, weird...all because I have refused to be what everyone else is.  I stand on these beliefs.   I get hooked on things, both good and bad.  I love too much and play too hard.  I am not about to change though, for you, or anyone.  My flaws balance out with my good qualities and make a perfect storm.  What is life if you don’t have the mistakes, the mystery,  or even the adventure.

As flawed as you might be, as unattractive as you sometimes feel, and as unaccomplished as you think you are. To believe that you must hide all the parts of you that are broken or flawed, out of fear that someone else is incapable of loving something that is less than perfect, is to believe that sunlight is incapable of entering a broken window and illuminating a dark room. Flaws make a better story.

Psalm 139:14

New International Version (NIV)

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;    your works are wonderful,     I know that full well.

“Being called WEIRD is like being called Limited Edition, meaning you’re something people don’t see that often.”