To be ugly is to be unattractive. Too often we relegate ugliness simply to our physical characteristics. In truth, our behaviour and character can be as terribly unattractive as some people propose our facial features are. There are those of us who harass and tease, denegrate and demoralize; there are those of us who assault and victimize; there are those of us who ruin and destroy; there are those of us who gossip, who are reactionary, narrow-minded, gluttonous, prejudiced, insecure, etc. Ugliness has many faces.
In moments of honesty and truth, it grieves me to acknowledge that I have worn many of these faces, that I have been ugly towards others, toward the world. Ugliness is unpleasant, devious and nasty. These are sensations in which we relish and luxuriate at times, particularly if others have expressed them toward us. Most often we express them in groups and among others. It is often said "misery loves company," but I suspect it is not just misery that loves company!
I often think that even the ugliest of us, that is, those of us whom people do not find pleasing to the eye, can be the most attractive, the most beautiful, simply because they do not have any ugliness in their character. Of these people, I often wonder, what makes them beautiful? Is it their kindness, their empathy? Perhaps this what Jesus, the Christ, was trying to communicate to mankind by his injunctions such as, "judge not, that ye be not judged," (Matthew 7:1).
Ugliness tears down character and strips one's aura (that invisible body of color and light which communicates things to us on emotional, mental and spiritual levels) of its color and beauty. It prevents the light of spirit from shining through the body. Jesus says, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16. When we express ugliness our light is not shining; we have put it away, hidden it by our ugly thoughts and deeds. Light is that which represents the good, the true and the beautiful. As simple and platitudinous as it may sound, it is the only thing powerful enough to turn back the darkness or the ugliness in men.
Ugliness is what drags the world down and prevents us all from being the best and most beautiful we can be, from making the world a better place, a place full of beautiful people. What is it that keeps you from being beautiful? What is it that makes YOU ugly?
In moments of honesty and truth, it grieves me to acknowledge that I have worn many of these faces, that I have been ugly towards others, toward the world. Ugliness is unpleasant, devious and nasty. These are sensations in which we relish and luxuriate at times, particularly if others have expressed them toward us. Most often we express them in groups and among others. It is often said "misery loves company," but I suspect it is not just misery that loves company!
I often think that even the ugliest of us, that is, those of us whom people do not find pleasing to the eye, can be the most attractive, the most beautiful, simply because they do not have any ugliness in their character. Of these people, I often wonder, what makes them beautiful? Is it their kindness, their empathy? Perhaps this what Jesus, the Christ, was trying to communicate to mankind by his injunctions such as, "judge not, that ye be not judged," (Matthew 7:1).
Ugliness tears down character and strips one's aura (that invisible body of color and light which communicates things to us on emotional, mental and spiritual levels) of its color and beauty. It prevents the light of spirit from shining through the body. Jesus says, let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16. When we express ugliness our light is not shining; we have put it away, hidden it by our ugly thoughts and deeds. Light is that which represents the good, the true and the beautiful. As simple and platitudinous as it may sound, it is the only thing powerful enough to turn back the darkness or the ugliness in men.
Ugliness is what drags the world down and prevents us all from being the best and most beautiful we can be, from making the world a better place, a place full of beautiful people. What is it that keeps you from being beautiful? What is it that makes YOU ugly?
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