Beauty is a good quality everywhere. Where there is beauty, there as well, lies evidence that chaos has been replaced by the meticulous works of a master designer. Consider the creation story, for instance; the Bible presents a world that is formless and void, with darkness hovering over the face of the deep. But after God has invested some time in the great work of creation, the description changes to, " God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!"
Considering this, you cannot agree that it differs from how beauty is viewed. The philosophy of most societies tends to serve subtle warnings about beautiful things. A young man out to find a marriage partner is often advised to beware of beauty. It sounds like if you come out with the beautiful one, you are not building on a sure foundation. Do you want to know 'The Mali Safi Problem?'
People tend to raise the standard of morality too high for the beautiful ones. If you are beautiful but lazy, the rebukes tend to be sharper than the dull-eyed and lazy damsel. The reasoning could be pegged on the fact that you seem to presume that your beauty will offset your inadequacy in other areas. Secondly, you are going to be dangerous because you are a low-hanging but toxic fruit–easily noticed and reached but disappointing.
Therefore, while I accept that beauty is deceitful, and can trap people into lifelong muck and mire, I am boldly ringing another bell: go for beauty; don't let them lie to you. Am I speaking from both sides of my mouth? No, let me repeat for emphasis, "Go for beauty; let them not lie to you!"
Definition of Beauty
But while you go for beauty, we must agree on one thing; the definition of beauty. How do you define beauty? The reason why the men of old have always added a layer of caution when beauty is involved is because of how people define beauty. An average man defines beauty with a lot of emphasis on the container and rarely the content. When the container looks sparkling and magnificent, most people conclude that they have the real deal.
Like fools, they then voraciously take the container and start gulping the content indifferently, caring less to subject the content to an edibility test. And like guinea pigs that they are, they may discover sooner or later that the content is poisonous but the discovery will not benefit them. By their death or failure, they leave behind a lesson that will only benefit others. Even puff adders look beautiful from without, but their venom will keep you ready for the resurrection morning.
If you are such a person; who appraises beauty by the magnificence of the container and stops there, then it is true beauty is too much for you. It may be dangerous for you to go for beauty. You will make mistakes. You will be attracted to skin tone, bodily curves, hair, shapes, contours, et cetera. We all know that all these bow to time and pressure. Furthermore, they can't keep you when the content is poisonous.
This is Beauty
Maybe you are thinking that after deconstructing the container, I will talk of beauty as the content, right? Well, if you thought so, here is a shocker. While the container alone is insufficient, the container has its worthy contribution. I am not in the school of thought of those people who say that the magnificence of the container does not matter. It matters, but it is not all.
If you serve me a nutritious smoothie in a container that is offensive to the sight, I don't care about the nutritive value of the content; I don't want it! It is a waste of time and resources to put new wine in a grotesque tumbler and then try convincing us to just ignore the tumbler and take it. Conversely, if the container looks drop-dead gorgeous, we still won't excuse the content. We want to be sure it is a yummy smoothie and nothing else. This is beauty.
Beauty encompasses both container and content. If you have to explain or provide additional information, that is not beauty. With due respect, Usimwone hivyo, ni daktari (don't see her like that, she's a doctor), is not beauty. It should be that the container means something to you and captures your attention. After this, however, the real deal is the content. It is all you are pursuing. The container makes it easier to choose, but the content determines if you will live or not.
Therefore, you should never treat the container and content as mutually exclusive. Both have their proper sphere. Think of content as personality, morality, people skills, communication, respect, virtue, attitude towards work, commitment to eternal realities, general usefulness in life, and many more.
Conclusion
The sages of old discourage people from going for beauty because most people have a one-sided definition of beauty, which emphasises more on the container. However, if you consider a progressive definition of beauty—content and container in equal measure—then beauty is the real deal. When beauty is only based on the container it is deceitful. When it is based on the content only it is pitiful. But when the container and content are harmonised, it is the real deal. Then why should you not go for beauty?
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. NLT Proverbs 31:30
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