The outer look of a being is like a lily. It sprouts out in beauty and radiates in glory. So beautiful to behold and tender to touch. It glows with enticing colours but it might and dries up so soon. As lovely as the lily is, it is a sitting target for various diseases and pests. As gorgeous as it is, it cannot stand the test of time. It vanishes even in its beauty. But the inner man, the seat of wisdom and knowledge, the coordinator of the external affairs, shines and flourishes even when the outer man is long forgotten. It is like rain that falls and leaves an undeniable impact.
The inner man is the energy store room for all the activities of the outer man. The outer man is easily defined while it takes an extra ordinary effort to define the inner man. The outer man desires cosmetics for beauty but the inner man requires reconstructive internal surgery to glow.
It is saddening that many devote the integral part of their time to grooming the perishable part and little time to that which lives forever and truly defines a being. The Holy Bible says 'keep the heart with all diligence, out of it are issues of life'. People's perceptions of a person emanates from the outer and inner self but the perception cropped from the outer self fades off easily.
Also, one's outer self cannot be undermined when a person's personality is examined. However, the outer part only attracts while the inner gives the longing verdict.
Many world shakers were not very handsome and attractive, but they took time to coach their inner man. Helen Keller wasn't a paragon of beauty: as a matter of fact, she was deformed (blinded and deafened) but because her inner being was strengthened, she overcame her outer weaknesses. She was knocked down on the outside grieving situation beyond her control at a tender age of seven, but she got up from the inside to climb the alter of fame.
In conclusion, our outer look does not define us, neither does it place a barrier on what we can be or cannot be. It does not dictate the pace at which we can move but it can be a show stopper if we do not build our inner man to authority. Investing in our inner self is the best investment ever.