Too Old and Haggard?

Alright, I’m irked. I know in today’s celebrity and image consumed culture, we focus on a lot of ridiculous things. So, it should not have surprised me when I came across a headline this morning on MSN’s home page, “Lopez Looks Old?” Yeah, here we go, happy weekend, everyone. Everyone out from under the proverbial rock knows who Jennifer Lopez or “J-Lo” is. She’s frequently gossiped about in fashion, music and celebrity discussions. She did a lot of great stuff for the derriere acceptance. Remember “Bennifer?” And she’s mentioned frequently for her Puerto Rican beauty. She’s been on numerous magazine covers. So, of course, as a curious onlooker, I was intrigued by the headline and started reading the online article by Kat Giantis. And this was what I discovered which I believe goes under the “Gimme a reality check break” file: "’Her camp feels she looks old and haggard,’ a Lopez source tells the New York Post. Word is, her people contacted the mag to kvetch about the photo…” This People magazine cover here.

Yes, this one. “Too old.” It’s another case of the uphill battle of focusing unrealistic expectations/emphasis on appearance. Yay. It’s not surprising. Frustrating and disappointing? Yes. Maddening and irritating? Yes. Quite ridiculous and unfair? You bet! And it’s not scripturally beneficial. Gossip. That’s what it is. It’s unproductive at its best and harmful at its worst. And whether it’s online, television or magazines, like “People Magazine” here, we are all drawn to it, giving it credence. But what’s the point? Check out the following scriptures: “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29 “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” Romans 14:19 “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” Romans 15:2 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 C’mon, is that what this “entertainment” is doing here? Really? Have we gotten so distorted in our thinking that we can honestly think this image of Jennifer Lopez is “haggard?” And just look everywhere around the story for the ageism! Why should we ever equate old age with that “haggard” word? Again, it’s not scripturally accurate. The Bible, in fact, has this to say about age-or aging, more specifically… “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is obtained by following a righteous path.” Proverbs 16:31 (Don’t tell L’oreal or Clairol hair color about that). Yes, I’m on a rant here. I’m not the first to kvetch about the issue. But we have gotten so screwed up, as a culture, in our definitions of attributes: words like “young,” “old,” “fat,”” thin,” “beautiful” and “ugly” are just a few adjective examples of this sick way of thinking. Jennifer Lopez is a woman in her 40’s. Should there be a good or bad distinction made about that? None of us can stop time and the aging process, even armed with the best cosmetics and surgical procedures. It happens. If Jennifer Lopez is “too old and haggard,” then what’s the epitome of “young and fresh?” Is it an unusually tall for her age seven year old model, made up to look like she’s a sophisticated nineteen- year old? C’mon! Again, believing and promoting this kind of thing, at best, is unproductive; at worst, it’s harmful. It’s idle. And, according to scripture… “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” Matthew 12:36 Yikes! But you and I CAN stop it; in fact, we’re INSTRUCTED to stop it… “But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” Colossians 3:8 If nothing changes, nothing changes. Where are we, when we see articles like this? Do we agree or disagree? Is culture’s decree on youth, age, beauty, weight and worth the final say…or is God’s Word? And what will that final say positively or negatively do for each of us in our lives. We decide. “…Choose you this day whom ye will serve…” Joshua 24:15 Look at what “they” say about Ms. Lopez. Do you really want to choose that ruling for yourself? Copyright © 2013 by Sheryle Cruse