Three years ago, I gave up makeup for Lent. At first, I felt naked, plain, and exposed. Each time I left the house I felt like I’d forgotten to put on my pants or my shoes. I felt incomplete. But after a couple weeks, I began to love it. If you never put makeup on, you never have to take it off at the end of the day. I loved the freedom to touch my eyes or hug a friend with a clean white shirt or jump into a pool without worrying about leaving black mascara marks behind. It was meant to be a short-term experiment, but it completely changed my view of myself, my appearance and my understanding of authentic beauty.
I know many other women who have done the same in the past and experienced similar feelings. And even this year within Radiant (our new small group at UM), girls have been committing left and right to going bare faced for one to two weeks.
I thought to myself yesterday,
This feels a bit like the beginning of a revolution, doesn’t it?
And then, at our life group last night we got this idea–what if we started this revolution during the season of Lent this year? Does the idea frighten you? Does just thinking about it make you feel bare? Naked? Exposed? We’re calling our revolution “Girls Gone Bare,“ and it’s based on the truth Scripture reveals about the value of our outward appearance:
“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30)
This year the season of Lent will last from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday. From February 17 until April 4, consider skipping your daily makeup routine to discover your authentic beauty that is rooted in the Lord—the ultimate artist. I’d encourage you to prayerfully consider making this sacrifice during Lent this year, and invite other women you know to join you. Let’s unite, overcome getting our identity from outward appearance, and discover together the women we were created to be.
“For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)
Question: Will you join the revolution?
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Love this!
Thanks! And thanks for including it in your Wonderfully Made blog post, too! (http://wonderfullymadeblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/its-that-time-of-year-again.html)
This is soo cool! I’m gonna do it for sure and spread the word!
Yes, I will participate. No more makeup for me.
Oh Curt, always such a jokester!