What Happens When Looks Fade? (And Why Are We Still So Concerned About Them?)

[seoulsearch]

Hey Everyone,

Just for a minute, consider these pictures:

Now I know everyone has their own style and personal taste, but in general... These people are pretty doggoned good-looking--after all, they were paid vast fortunes in an industry that worships looks.

But, what happens when, as the Bible says, beauty fades away?

(Please give me a minute. To make this easier to read, I'm going to break this up into two posts.)

 

[seoulsearch]

Hmm. I had one more image I tried to post so that there would be examples of both men and women... Let's see if I can get that other picture to post.

 

[seoulsearch]

Looking at these pictures...

How would you feel about dating anyone as good-looking as these people? (Meaning, not necessarily dating THESE people in particular, but would you be attracted to someone as good-looking as them? Why or why not?)

 

[seoulsearch]

Let's fast forward and see what happened a few decades down the road in the lives of our examples:

First, Miss Elizabeth Taylor:

Next, Mr. Marlon Brando:

Third, the one that personal resonance with me, seeing as Mr. Jan-Michael Vincent was one of my biggest Hollywood crushes when I was a kid:

And finally, Princess Grace Kelly:

As you might have noticed, they look a little different from their younger selves.

 

[kaylagrl]

Looking at these pictures...

How would you feel about dating anyone as good-looking as these people? (Meaning, not necessarily dating THESE people in particular, but would you be attracted to someone as good-looking as them? Why or why not?)

My hubby is as good looking as any of them Im lucky

 

[Amazing-Grace]

Oh my that is shocking to think upon too much! What happened to Jan Michael Vincent??? He was my crush too!

When I was young looks were very important to me but now I see people like Jesus sees them - I look at the heart and if they have a heart for God that is good enough for me, looks are way down the list but a heart for God would be a top requirement.

 

[seoulsearch]

As we all know, getting older is inevitable, and beauty fades away. The Bible tells us instead to concentrate on our relationship with God and allow Him to renew our hearts and minds.

But yet, why do we pay so much attention to beauty, even as believers? Anyone who says that looks aren't important to believers probably hasn't participated in any "Christian" dating events.

We tell ourselves that what's inside is what really counts... Yet we torture ourselves to try to look as good as we can, for as long as we can... And we often find ourselves gravitating to the best-looking (at least, in our eyes) people... As Christians, we are supposed to be better than that. But how?

* Do you ever think about what will happen when your own looks fade, or, if you marry someone you find to be good-looking... what will happen when they don't look as good to you (or everyone else) anymore?

* What are you thoughts about trying to hang on to youth and beauty as it fades away? (Many people don't just see it as vanity, but rather, trying to hold on to their spouse.)

* What do you do to remind yourself to look at another person's inner beauty, rather than concentrating all your attention to the outside?

As I get older, I know that I sometimes struggle more with trying to define the boundaries between self-care and self-preservation. Do any of you?

I would love to hear your feelings in response to these questions and anything else having to do with the topic of looks.

Please feel free to post your thoughts... and let your inner beauty shine.

 

[tourist]

My hubby is as good looking as any of them Im lucky

My honey is a hot tamale as well. We are both blessed.

 

[seoulsearch]

Oh my that is shocking to think upon too much! What happened to Jan Michael Vincent??? He was my crush too!

When I was young looks were very important to me but now I see people like Jesus sees them - I look at the heart and if they have a heart for God that is good enough for me, looks are way down the list but a heart for God would be a top requirement.

Hi Amazing,

Unfortunately, Mr. Vincent had a decades-long struggle with addictions, primarily alcohol and cocaine. At one time while he was on "Airwolf", he was making $200,000 an episode and was the highest-paid actor in television.

He was in several accidents that he doesn't even remember due to intoxication, and lost his leg due to a bacterial infection.

Completely tragic.

 

[Lynx]

In the pictures of women you supplied, 2/3 of the looks is artifice anyway.

I feel sorry for people who do fit the common modern conception of good looks. How will they ever know if somebody is marrying or dating them for looks or for themselves?

 

[seoulsearch]

In the pictures of women you supplied, 2/3 of the looks is artifice anyway.

I feel sorry for people who do fit the common modern conception of good looks. How will they ever know if somebody is marrying or dating them for looks or for themselves?

I've thought about this as well... If you look up the biographies of many famous, good-looking people... their personal lives are a train wreck that was hit by a tornado.

But of course... us "regular" people go through that as well.

You do have a really good point, Lynx. Some of the really good-looking people I've talked to have said they feel lonely and isolated from everyone, because people never take them seriously and always want to use them for something.

 

[Lynx]

Wife: "will you still love me when I am old and no longer pretty?"

Husband "of course I do... Will, of course I will."

 

[88]

I've thought about this as well... If you look up the biographies of many famous, good-looking people... their personal lives are a train wreck that was hit by a tornado.

But of course... us "regular" people go through that as well.

You do have a really good point, Lynx. Some of the really good-looking people I've talked to have said they feel lonely and isolated from everyone, because people never take them seriously and always want to use them for something.

****I like to watch old movies from the 30's, 40', and 50's---I'm always telling my wife--hey if that guy was alive he would be 110 years old----all of these famous people are dust now and what of their souls? So, I take time to evaluate my own life at times and think about my life before God-----being glamorous and rich seems cool when your 35, but then these people get up to 78, 79, 80 years old and are wasted.. (I'm talking about the sinners)

 

[kaylagrl]

My honey is a hot tamale as well. We are both blessed.

Yes,brother we certainly are

 

[88]

Wife: "will you still love me when I am old and no longer pretty?"

Husband "of course I do... Will, of course I will."

***that reminds me of an old Beatles song---"When I'm 64"
https://youtu.be/51YxVANGeJI

 

[Amazing-Grace]

Very sad about JMV, fame is not something to be sought after but all the kids seek it these days - or so it seems.

Grace Kelly was a natural beauty but her marriage was a sham, she reportedly had affairs and died young. The circumstances surrounding her death are sketchy at best. As in the case of most "celebs", they cannot handle no longer being idolised by the masses and go "off the rails" truly tragic.

The book of Ecclesiastes speaks about the workaholic and the lazy - neither is a route to happiness, striking a balance is the wise thing to do. King Solomon had it all and God gave him wisdom but in the end it was all in vain.

 

[Prov910]

Third, the one that personal resonance with me, seeing as Mr. Jan-Michael Vincent was one of my biggest Hollywood crushes when I was a kid:

Yeah, Jan-Michael Vincent is a good example for this thread. His looks are long gone. And pretty much everything else in his live has been squandered away. He's a living Hollywood tragedy. He's been an alcoholic for over forty years, had multiple drunk driving convictions, several automobile crashes, a longtime intravenous drug habit, and had at least two failed marriages. He's been flat broke since the mid 90s, and starred in a couple of low budget porno films to raise some desperately needed cash. (I've not seen those films, btw. lol) It's a miracle that's he's still alive. I imagine his life isn't too great right now. But just think of the life he could have had if he had walked the straight and narrow. He's a great example of how *not* to live.

 

[Amazing-Grace]

Yeah, Jan-Michael Vincent is a good example for this thread. His looks are long gone. And pretty much everything else in his live has been squandered away. He's a living Hollywood tragedy. He's been an alcoholic for over forty years, had multiple drunk driving convictions, several automobile crashes, a longtime intravenous drug habit, and had at least two failed marriages. He's been flat broke since the mid 90s, and starred in a couple of low budget porno films to raise some desperately needed cash. (I've not seen those films, btw. lol) It's a miracle that's he's still alive. I imagine his life isn't too great right now. But just think of the life he could have had if he had walked the straight and narrow. He's a great example of how *not* to live.

Porn??? With the way he looks now??? Really???

 

[Hellooo]

I read this poem recently:

 

[seoulsearch]

Yeah, Jan-Michael Vincent is a good example for this thread. His looks are long gone. And pretty much everything else in his live has been squandered away. He's a living Hollywood tragedy. He's been an alcoholic for over forty years, had multiple drunk driving convictions, several automobile crashes, a longtime intravenous drug habit, and had at least two failed marriages. He's been flat broke since the mid 90s, and starred in a couple of low budget porno films to raise some desperately needed cash. (I've not seen those films, btw. lol) It's a miracle that's he's still alive. I imagine his life isn't too great right now. But just think of the life he could have had if he had walked the straight and narrow. He's a great example of how *not* to live.

Ironically (or maybe due to the grace of God), Mr. Vincent does have a wife who apparently loves and takes care of him, even in his current state (at least, he did, according to the handful of articles and interviews I read/watched in order to write this thread.)