The pursuit of purity

“I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.”
― Mae West

DSC01074
(azalea bloom / Julie Cook / 2015)

I suppose if anyone could exude a rather racy, even wanton lifestyle, it would be the famously baudy actress Mae West. Mae was considered a maverick well before her time as she was a fierce woman of independence long before such was fashionable. She began her career acting in Vaudeville and continued writing, producing, singing, appearing, performing for the next 7 decades.

Her famous line full of buxom appeal and coy shift of shoulder, “why don’t you come up sometime n see me” left audiences, in 1933, a bit shocked as well as intrigued by this overt coquette of an actress. Wholesomeness, innocence and purity were not virtues claimed by Mae West.
She made no bones about it as her life reflected, up to her death at age 87, a woman who didn’t seem to care much for social norms.

Whereas Mae West was always up front and honest about basically being bad or a pushing the envelope sort of individual, there are today so many others who wish to project an image of pure goodness without much regard for honest self examination. Meaning, the best foot forward may be well intended or even purposely placed, yet the truth of the matter is that it is actually greatly soiled.

Projecting a persona of humility and squeaky clean living while actually racing toward the polar opposite would or should certainly require a bit of self reflection and introspection. Who among us wouldn’t benefit from a little delving into our hearts? Examining our intentions, our desires, our ambitions, our drive, the pursuit of our goals—questioning our true motives and asking the hard questions as to whether our desires, pursuits, lives, thoughts are as pure and as good as we project and actually believe, or rather are they not perhaps a bit soiled? We work so hard trying to fool others, yet are we not the ones who are truly fooled?

It is to each of us, each single individual, to consider the purity of our own lives and heart.
Some of us will claim we don’t have time to bother with a life where purity or wholesomeness is involved.
Some of us will even wonder why we should dare take to the time to even consider such.
Some will argue that the idea of a pure life equates to a boring life. . .and by world standards,
I suppose that might be true.

Purity equates to wholesomeness, chastity, and innocence. Not exactly popular virtues by way of Hollywood’s or the Entertainment industry’s standards. It’s a sad observation that virtues consisting of the positive and of goodness simply don’t sell like vices such as sexual promiscuity, violence, greed, self absorption, etc.
Yet there remains buried deep within our hearts a desire to seek that which is pure.
That which is whole, clean, virtuous, good . . .

To be washed clean.
To be given hope.
To be made whole.
To be turned around.
To find true peace.
To be made pure

Life changing.
Life altering.
Life saving.

And it is to the One who is Pure. . .it is He who calls our name and to whom we all long.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 5:21

13 comments on “The pursuit of purity

  1. Christine Ledford says:

    Beautifully-written as always, Julie. Lots of truth in here. Thanks for this. 🙂

  2. Lisa says:

    I really enjoyed this one. 🙂

  3. Nicodemas says:

    Very powerful. Thank you!

  4. Lynda says:

    Julie, my favourite verse echos what you have written.
    As a deer longs for flowing streams,
    so my soul longs for you, O God.
    My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God. (Psalm 42:1-2)
    I was sharing this last evening at our Alpha for Catholics gathering. Peace to you my friend.

    • Thank you Lynda–I do hope the weather is turning Spring like near Toronto allowing you to get outside and soak in a little radiant joy!!!!
      Hugs to you—Julie

      • Lynda says:

        Julie, there was evidence of snow today!! It is supposed to warm up a bit tomorrow – I hope so because I’m facilitating a retreat tomorrow and we have blocked off some time for retreatants to walk around in the garden where we are holding the retreat. Oh well, it is Canada and it is only April!! 🙂

      • Next retreat—Georgia!! 🙂

      • Lynda says:

        Now that would be wonderful!!!

  5. Great post! My white azalea has little pink freckles and I see yours has little green ones. Gotta loves those freckles, says she who has a multitude of them on her body. I’m trying to catch us as you can see and now we are under another tornado watch. Man oh man, is this spring developing into a most treacherous one. Hugs, N 🙂 ❤

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