So, most of you know we have our first ever Santa Barbara Conference this Saturday! I am stoked for this event and know that God is going to amazing things in so many girls’ lives! I can go on to tell you how awesome this event is going to be, but you’ll just have to come check it out for yourself!
So on to the topic of this blog (such a weird new word). It’s never easy to confess your pride or vanity, but I felt compelled to do so anyways. So here it goes….
Along with all the major details of the event planning such as dinner, coffee, decorations, registration and all that, one of the main things that I’ve been obsessing about is what I’m going to wear. If you’re a girl I guess it’s not that big of a surprise – it’s pretty normal to think about that for any exciting event. But what is so embarassng is how much time and worry and wasted energy I’ve put into hunting for the “perfect” pair of brown knee-high boots the past two weeks. I probably checked online like fifteen times to see if they had this adorable pair (pictured above!) in my size. Aren’t they cute??? I’ve driven out of my way to stop at out outlet malls and shopping centers…and just can’t seem to find the pair that matches my idealized look.
I just think it’s so funny and humbling to admit to you how preoccupied I’ve been about my outfit for our conference – an event which is designed to help girls know their true value and worth as a daughter of God. Part of this preoccupation definitely just comes from my vanity; some of it from wanting to be “relatable” to young women, thinking that my sense of style might help with that; and also that we’re going to have it professionally filmed. As I paced along the shops in downtown San Luis Obispo the other weekend during my mad hunt for boots (and maybe even a shirt!), I stopped to give two teenage girls in dark eye makeup and skinny jeans an invite to the conference. They thanked me and then one asked them what was it for. I told her it was an event to help them know where their true value lies. “It’s not in the guys you date or what you wear or what you accomplish or don’t accomplish,” I told them. And then I smiled, turned away and continued on my hunt for the perfect boots. Looking back, I know what I should have done – told them about Jesus – about who He is and what He’s done in my life and what He can do in theirs. That it’s in Him that our true value lies.
I’m so thankful for God’s grace – His unmerited favor is upon us always – not just sometimes. I might not know what outfit I’m going to wear and I’m thankfully not that worried about it anymore, but I do know that I don’t want to get in the way of what God wants to do.