Yesterday I wrote a poem (Mirror, Mirror) which reflected on an old theme – Narcissism. Many young (and not so young) people are hooked on acceptance via social media. It gives their lives electricity and meaning. From the first thing in the morning to the last thing at night, cell phones and computers are checked for messages – for affirmation. In fact, for many, the phones keep beeping the messages throughout the night.
Part of this process involves what I call (and excuse the crassness) – “tartification”. Girls especially, post images which portray an oversexualised image of themselves. I don’t just find the images disturbing but also the thinking that leads to the presentation of that image. Many of these images scream, “This is how I think you (in Social-media-land) want me to look. And I want you to believe that I fit that image.”
How do we counter this? Our challenge as parents, teachers and pastors is to encourage our young people to see that true beauty is what God sees – the heart with its attitudes and values. True beauty stems from loving our neighbour – not from being obsessed with ones self. Furthermore, the heart is reflected in the way we present ourselves.
Proverbs 27:19 tells us “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”
We need to challenge ourselves and our young people to realise that our “online” image like the water in Proverbs 27 reflects us. So what does it reflect in each of our lives? What does our online persona say about us and therefore, about our heart?
As adults we need to be careful about putting undue emphasis on outward appearance but rather, we should be eager to praise the beautiful glimpses of the heart that young people may give us. We need to be models in our online lives, just as in our day to day lives, of what a healthy Christian life looks like.
I am always encouraged by Paul’s challenge: Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Phil 4:8&9