victORIOUS secret ♥
25 July, 2015
Okay friends, let's be honest with ourselves: Who doesn't want to be a Victoria's Secret model? I mean, come on, they're the real deal. They literally look like angels (hence their nickname) and seem to be the most care-free women in the world. They've got style and they've got (almost) every man drooling over them. They are undoubtedly the most recognizable models in the industry and can have anything at the drop of a hat. They've achieved the ultimate "perfection" in the world's eyes. Who wouldn't want a piece of that pie?
Last year, I was out to lunch with a friend of mine at a restaurant in Malibu, California called Plate. It's one of my favorite places of all-time, and I've ran into a small handful of celebrities eating there; Reggie Miller, Adam Sandler, and Brandon Jenner in particular.
It's a quiet place tucked away on Pacific Coast Highway, more of a locals-only joint than not. The tourists tend to choose Duke's a mile down the beach, which in my opinion is highly overrated (except for the occasional Taco Tuesday out on the deck - which you still have to wait a good 45 minutes for a table).
So anyways, my friend had graduated the year prior and was living in Colorado but came back for a weekend visit. I picked her up from her hotel and we headed over to Plate for brunch on a Saturday morning. It's usually a pretty quiet restaurant, but most of the tables (only about 10 total) were taken. We sat down at a table near the front window and ordered our meal. She ordered banana pancakes and I ordered an omelet with fruit and toast, and we both asked for coffee (and their famous green juices)!
We had both become Christians the year prior, so we chatted about what God had been doing in our lives. I explained how worried I was about where I'd end up after graduation. I didn't know if I should commit to another 2 years to Pepperdine for a masters degree or go serve on the mission field. She told me she'd pray for me, and she started telling me about how her life in Colorado was quiet and she'd found a nice church.
Facing the window, we watched as people carried their groceries out of a boutique grocery store, PC Greens, and carried their bags to their 6-figure cars. We watched as men in chef hats carried gluten-free pizza pies out of D'Amores Pizzeria for delivery. And then, we watched as the most beautiful woman I had ever seen stepped out of a 2-door Ferrari arm-in-arm with a muscular, bald man in a suit jacket.
The woman was wearing black and white striped pants, a black tank top, a fedora cap, and big, white glasses that formed complete circles. Her blonde hair fell to her shoulders, and her slim body made it quite obvious she had done lots and lots of squats in her lifetime.
I knew I recognized her, but I couldn't put my finger on who it was. Immediately, my friend pinched my arm. "Paige!" she whispered. "That's Rosie from Victoria's Secret!"
The celebrity couple sat at the table right next to us as our food was set at our table. As a reached for my fork, I heard my conscious speaking. Setting down my fork, I asked my friend if she minded if we prayed before we ate.
We bowed our heads, thanked God for the meal, and said amen. As we looked up, both of us noticed Rosie and her boyfriend looking at us. It was hard for them not to, to be honest, as their table was only about 2 feet away.
Not a whole lot else happened. My friend and I continued to talk about God. Rosie ordered a veggie wrap on whole wheat. We finished our plates and signed our bill. Rosie asked for a green juice. We left the restaurant. And that was that.
Rosie is the type of woman every girl wants to be. But, without placing her trust in Christ, even Rosie doesn't hold the key to eternal life. Us women get so caught up in wanting to look and act a certain way. Many of us would do anything to have the life Rosie has. But that's just the point - this life here on Earth is so unbelievably short compared to eternity.
Leaving the restaurant, I felt a sense of overwhelming peace. Rosie was the woman I always wanted to emulate, and it wasn't a surprise God placed her within an arms reach away from me. Sure, she was gorgeous. Sure, she had a hot boyfriend. Sure, she owned the cutest pair of pants I had ever seen. But that day, I realized I was no different than her. God calls all of us His children, no matter how we look or what we say or where we work or who we date.
I left a part of myself at Plate that day: the part that compared myself to others.
We are children of the living God, used by Him and adored by Him and uplifted by Him. No matter how many fans Rosie has on this Earth, there's only going to be one real celebrity in Heaven, and that's Jesus. Sitting next to Rosie allowed me to see that, although incredibly beautiful, she's only human.
I've always been a fan of Victoria's Secret. I like their clothes, especially the "Pink" brand. But I've found something even better: the victORIOUS secret that Jesus loves us and wants to spend eternity with us forever.
Praying in front of Rosie may have done nothing, she could have seen it and forgotten about it the very next second. But maybe, just maybe, it stirred something in her heart.
Thank you, God, that all of us who believe are welcomed into Your Kingdom. Victoria's Secret models, college students, car mechanics, bus drivers, missionaries, jail-birds, everyone. Thank you for sharing Your victorious secret with us. Please help us feel confident to pray in front of others, to speak about You in front of others, and to not size ourselves up against others. We love you and thank you, amen.
^ And on a different note, Kylie Bisutti, a role model of mine, gave up modeling for VS for a life devoted to her husband and Christ. Her book, "I'm No Angel," was huge for me and my faith. I highly recommend it to you ladies.
