I recently
came across a humorous post of a cat’s head on a Barbie doll’s figure. And the
quote accompanying it?
“Yet another unrealistic standard of
beauty for women.”
I
immediately thought of those bobble head toys of many celebrities and
characters.
And it
struck a nerve.
For, honestly,
within our culture, this post isn’t that far-fetched. It may seem ridiculous,
this Barbie doll body with an actual feline’s head on top of it.
But, come
on. What absurd things have we put out there in the name of image? What crash diets,
what severe beauty aesthetics and value measurements have come and gone,
changed, only to resurface, once again, in some other strange, distorted
fashion?
It still
doesn’t address the fact of how we often refuse to confront the real issue.
We want an
instant, easy “solution,” one which only focuses on the often unrealistic
exterior.
After all...
“The body type portrayed in
advertising as the ideal is possessed naturally by only 5% of the American
females.”
The Renfrew Center Foundation for
Eating Disorders, “Eating Disorders: A
Summary of Issues, Statistics, and Resources”
Our pursuit
of an emaciated standard is unrealistic, much like this cat head/human female
body hybrid.
Furthermore,
the construction of such weird, absurd and extreme idols does not work...
“What profiteth the graven image that the
maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the
maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith
to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is
laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of
it.”
Habakkuk
2:18-19
Unfortunately,
we often choose not to believe Scripture. We are thoroughly convinced this bobble head option will be our magic
cure.
This will
fulfill us. This is our answer.
Years ago, in popular culture and
image history, there was a celebrity phenomenon called “the Lollipop actresses.” These famous
starlets were known to diet to a point in which their much whittled frames were
disproportionate to their now seemingly, gigantic heads. They looked like
lollipops.
And, again, Habakkuk pops up...
“What
profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten
image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to
make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone,
Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there
is no breath at all in the midst of it.”
This humorous cat/Barbie post
underscores an uncomfortable, unflattering issue.
In one way or another, we make the graven
image (the idol).
In one way or another, we allow it to
influence us and teach us lies.
In one way or another, we expect the dumb idol
to spring to life and, therefore, give us life in return.
One little hitch to that plan?
“there
is no breath at all in the midst of it.”
You and I may not have a shrine
erected to a cat head/Barbie body within our homes, but, really, honestly, couldn’t
there be some form of image we wish to embody? Be honest.
And that is the spiritual, hard work
challenge.
What is your Bobble head? What is your
idol?
And how is it failing you?
A little afterthought here...
“I returned, and saw under the sun... time and chance happeneth to
them all. “
Ecclesiastes 9:11
Just yesterday, I came across a similar
post on social media.
Only now, we have a dinosaur head on a
female body.
It is absurd and yet again,
illustrates the point of how, there truly is “nothing new” going on when it comes
to the frenzy of an accepted beauty image.
And there is nothing new about the
drastic distortion, presented as “achievable” or “normal.”
Therefore, it is up to each of us to,
in our own unique way, identify, confront and see these images for what they
are, dumb, powerless idols, stacked up against the reality of our presence, wonderful,
incredible us.
And again, if you need a scripture
cheer to underscore that...
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”
Psalm 139:14
No bobble head can promise that.
None.
Copyright © 2016 by Sheryle Cruse
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