Good Looks

“Most people assume being good-looking gives you a career boost. But just how much does it help? A lot. Good-looking people charm interviewers, get hired faster, are more likely to make more sales and get more raises. Daniel Hamermesh, an economics professor at the University of Texas in Austin, measures out the benefits in his book, "Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful." According to his research, attractive people are likely to earn an average of 3% to 4% more than a person with below-average looks. That adds up to $230,000 more over a lifetime for the typical good-looking person, Dr. Hamermesh estimates. Even an average-looking worker is likely to make $140,000 more over a lifetime than an ugly worker” (Sue Shellenbarger, “On the Job, Beauty Is More Than Skin-Deep,” wsj.com, 10-27-11).

This research is not surprising to me. We live in an image-conscious society. We want our movie stars and athletes to be good-looking. Supermodels are used more often in advertising than those with average looks. Some factor in attractiveness as they choose a candidate for political office. Gone are the days when grandfatherly types like Walter Cronkite could get a job as a news anchor for a major network. Now we demand those who can deliver the news and look good doing it. The toxic message were are sending to our young people is that, unless they are good-looking, they can never be popular or financially secure. They are being convinced that if they aren’t one of the “beautiful” people, they will always be second rate.

How thankful I am that my relationship with God does not depend on my physical appearance. How grateful I am that God doesn’t see as the world sees (1 Samuel 16:7). Apparently there was nothing physically attractive about Jesus (Isaiah 53:2) and He still changed the world. That means there is hope for me! With God’s help, I can make a difference in my little corner of the world even if I don’t look like a movie star.

God loves you!
Mike