Masks (an extra little bit!)

After this week's posting about masks I was reminded of a Youtube clip shown at church a while ago.  It talks about the masks we put on and ... well ... why don't I just let you see for yourself?

The question left on my mind after watching this again, is not so much about what masks I put on, but whether my actions and attitudes encourage other people to discard their masks?

Do I cultivate a safe environment for them to do so?  

Do I give people time to say how they really are?  

Do I listen attentively and respond accordingly? 

Am I modelling a mask free life wherever possible?

Am I quick to judge?  

Do I try to understand?     

Do I care enough to enter into the hidden lives of people knowing it may be messy, difficult, painful?

Am I willing to let go of my own thoughts and agendas and ask Jesus what he would want me to do?

Am I prepared to show the love of Christ in all circumstances?


Successful and long-lasting discarding of masks involves more than the mask wearer - it requires the time, love, support, encouragement, effort etc of those around them.  Let's not expect action from others without being willing to give ourselves.

The one with the Mask

This week, just for a little while, I took off my mask (see previous post).  I displayed a little more of my true self than I am comfortable with.  It left me feeling as if I were walking around in an open field, undressed, with nowhere to hide or shade to seek refuge in.  I felt vulnerable and exposed.

Was I right to take off the mask?

(Insert good Christian answer here ... 'yes, of course, God wants us to be open and honest at all times')

Over the last few months, a lot has been said at church about taking off our masks.  It is obvious really isn't it?  As Christians we are to live our lives with integrity.  We are to be open and honest in all we say and do.   We should therefore make every effort to peel off our masks, and live and love as our real selves.   Anything short of this 'realness' would be deceptive and dishonest, and not congruent with our faith and relationship with Jesus.

If this is true, then we should immediately take off and discard our masks.  Right?

I think there are a couple of questions that need to be asked before we go rushing about in a self-awareness frenzy, identifying and throwing away our masks.

Firstly, and most importantly, we should ask ourselves - 'Who is it we are hiding our true self from?'

If we are trying to hide from God, then we have a problem.  You see, we will never be able to do this.  We need only to read Psalm 139 to know this.  God knows our innermost being.  He knows our thoughts.  He has examined our hearts and knows everything about us.  We try to hide in vain.  Our masks don't fool God.  Take them off, and come before God as you really are and accept the love he has for you - the real you.

How about if we are wearing our masks before other people?  Isn't this wrong too?

If our masks are concealing our true thoughts and feelings from other people, dare I suggest that it isn't always completely wrong to do so?

Does that shock you?  I have thought quite a lot about this lately, and whilst I agree that we should live our lives with complete honesty as much as possible, I can't help but acknowledge that some masks are valuable.

There are some masks that are worn for self-protection.  It would be crazy to suggest a fencer participate in a fight without wearing a mask.  The mask is there to protect and enable a fair and safe fight.  Without it a quick thrust of the opponent's epee could cause great harm and end the fight prematurely.

There are times when we need to wear a protective mask to keep us safe whilst in battle.  Perhaps a mask is needed to conceal our weakness and vulnerability from the enemy. Or maybe the mask is needed just long enough for us to prepare and build up our strength before we attack.


There are also masks that are worn for the protection of others.  Surgeons wear masks whilst operating for a number of reasons, one of which is to protect the patient from infectious droplets carrying bacteria or viruses that become airborne through a cough or sneeze.  Similarly, there are times when we may need to wear a mask to protect those around us.  Sometimes a mask of strength may be worn to risk hurting others.

That said, these protective masks are worn for a period of time for a specific purpose.  The fencer does not continue to wear the mask once the fight has finished.  The surgeon does not leave the theatre and go home to sleep still wearing the mask.  They are taken off when they are no longer necessary.

We too should take off our masks when they are no longer needed.  The danger is that we get comfortable and continue to wear them.  They begin to form our identity.  Masks that are worn out of season stop protecting and start to form barriers.  They hinder the real you from fully participating in all that God has in store for you and they keep others at a restrictive distance.

I took my mask off this week, it wasn't easy, but I knew it was time.  It had been worn when it was needed, but it was beginning to restrict my own journey, and that I hope to walk with others. 

What about you?

What masks are you currently wearing?

Who are you wearing them in front of?

Are you hiding your true self unnecessarily?

Is it time to begin to take them off?



I am thankful that God knows and loves the real me - of course he does - he created me!  I am also thankful that he will help us to take our masks off at the right time.  He wont force it, but will gently encourage and support us as we do.  Phew!

The one with the Teabag

I am very blessed.  Yes, I know it.  You see, most mornings one of my sons will bring a cup of tea up to me in bed.  Some mornings I might even get two!  Life is good.

The other morning however, it was not so good.  My alarm had gone off, and been put on snooze, and there I lay, drifting in and out of sleep, waiting to hear the familiar 'chink' as a cup is placed on my bedside table.  It seemed a long time coming this particular morning, but it did arrive.  I slowly sat up, picked up the new Starbucks mug that had appeared, and with a content sigh, I took the first sip.  MMmmmmm ......

BUT - the MMmmmm soon turned into Ewwwwwww.  Something was wrong.

It was still hot.  It looked the right colour.  It was in the right mug (yes, that does make a difference!) - So - what was the problem?

It just didn't hit the spot!  Something was different.  Somehow, something seemed missing.  And then it dawned on me ....

Caffeine!  Or rather, the lack of it!

Somehow, the teabags must have been mixed up in the cupboard and the teabag my son had used was void of caffeine.

Not so good first thing in the morning! Thankfully, I still had time to have a 'proper' tea before leaving the house.

Later on that morning, I met with a friend (yes, you guessed it, for tea!), and I shared my early morning experience with her.  After laughing at how I can make such a big thing out of tea, she explained that she wouldn't have known the difference.  This got me thinking ...

How did I know with such assurance?  After all, it was early in the morning and I was still very sleepy and decaf tea doesn't really taste that different to regular tea.

But ... I knew.

The one with the Facebook 'game'

Throughout this week, many Facebook users (particularly young people) have been embracing the current trend to publicly reveal their honest thoughts of those requesting it.  A user, wishing to engage in this game of compliments (or otherwise!), will indicate as such in their status.

'Message me a number between 1 - 500 and I will tell you what I think of you'

There have been a lot of similar 'games' on Facebook in the past, but this one presented a small amount of mystery, as the name of the person being spoken about would not be revealed - only their number.  Now, if you are anything like me, then this automatically sparks off an interest - as I like to play detective and try to figure out who is being written about.  Such fun!

So, I found myself reading through a considerable number of complimentary words about others.  What struck me almost immediately was the ease in which young people seemed to be able to share such encouraging, honest and loving words to their friends.  It was a far cry from the insults, ridicule, and sarcasm that I often hear (albeit in jest) during the two hours I see them during the week.  It was awe-inspiring.  How different I was at their age, when putting 'love from' on a birthday card made me feel as though my heart was being unnecessarily exposed!   Several decades on, and I am only just beginning to feel able to express my thoughts and feelings to others without fear of appearing weak and needy.  In my young mind, keeping quiet about such things made me feel and appear stronger.  What nonsense!  In fact, there is a definite strength in being able (and willing) to share open and honest words with others.

Can you tell this little Facebook 'game' had a significant impact on me?  It certainly did, in fact, so much so that I did something very out of 'Jo' character - and wrote a new status:

'OK, I will join the game - inbox me a number between 1 - 500 ...'

What good would the above thoughts have done me if I was not prepared to act on it?  Sometimes we can find ourselves caught up in a reflective cycle, going round and round, and never actually achieving anything.  Know what I mean?  We can all get caught up at times.  Thinking things over and over but never actually letting our thoughts make a difference.

In the book of James this cycle can be seen in a slightly different context, but it still brings home the point well ...

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:23- 25)
 

I do not want to walk away and forget all God has done in and for me.
I am not content to stay the same 'Jo' on the outside, especially when I know that God has been working on the inside.  I want to allow God to change all of me.  I want to be a better person.  I want to continually develop.  I want to act, not merely listen.  Even if it may be a little uncomfortable and involves effort!


So, although a childish game on Facebook may seem insignificant to some, for me it provided an opportunity to take a little step outside of my comfort zone and develop.  Numbers flooded my inbox, and words filled my mind.  I hope that my open and honest responses provided a little warmth and encouragement.  I have many wonderful people in my life, whom I am truly thankful for, and if I haven't had chance to tell you recently - I think you're great!

Of course - as with a lot of these 'games' - there is an element of both give and take.  Although my initial participation centred around the giving of honest and encouraging words to others, I also indulged in a little 'taking'.  I found the words I received from others had just as much impact on me as the reflective process described above.

Intrigued?  I will reveal all in my next blog .... :)