Although my own children are not yet old enough to attend a high school prom. several of my friends do. This weekend, my social media was loaded with pictures of teenagers dressed in fancy outfits, posing for pictures with their friends and family. It is an exciting time for many, and overwhelming for those who are not used to that kind of attention.
In my teen years, I also went to several formal and semi-formal events. There have not been too many occasions, since, to dress up like that. Senior prom was a very special time to be with my friends and classmates. We were about to leave high school and move on to either school, the military, or the workforce. To prepare, we dressed in uncomfortable clothes and shoes, and spent hours beautifying our hair and faces. We then gathered in the afternoon with our families so they could take pictures of all of us "almost grownups". Most of us were not prepared to take so many pictures. Some of us didn't even pretend to look happy anymore after the 50th "look at me" statement.
Some people think their senior prom is going to be this magical event, where everyone gets along, dresses stay put, and the music is dance-able. Most of us realize, though, that the prom is not much different than the rest of high school. The same friend groups usually stick together, mean comments can still be made, and people are even more self-conscious because they are in unfamiliar territory. Some schools do a "promenade", so all of the people who like to just blend in have the spotlight turned on them at least once. However you feel about going to the prom (I imagine some of you reading this never went to such thing), I do want to point out one thing that I found reading from the Book of Proverbs. The prom, with all of its glitz and glamour and sore feet, still involves people. As much as I love looking at the fashion choices, there is still more to a person than just his or her looks.
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, \
but a woman who fear the LORD is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30 (ESV)
