Masked or unmasked? For safety or for choice? Mandates or freedoms? Questions we wrestle with on a daily basis. There’s acceptance and shaming. Criticism and jeers. We jockey to be heard above the media’s story line. Our opinions seem to fall on deaf ears.
We can quickly sink into the quagmire of opinions and voices that are swirling around us today. On any given topic, including masks we can find a variety of differences in personal dialogues. Social media platforms are full of angst. Fear lines the faces of the ones you meet in the grocery store, the hardware store and on the street.
Dangers Confronted
As masks become a part of our everyday wardrobe, whether willingly or not so willingly a danger comes to the forefront of my mind. No, I am not going to debate for or against the mask mandate. So if you are looking for more fodder to fan the flame of dissent and division you will have to turn to another source.
The danger that has pushed its way to the surface of my mind is the danger of living masked in our spiritual life. Becoming unmasked brings vulnerability.
We see this in our world today, if masks do indeed stop the spread of a deadly virus then becoming unmasked makes us vulnerable to the danger. On the other hand, it is when we are unmasked, that we become the most approachable.
Masking means the welcoming smile is unseen. Words that are spoken remain muffled. A clear understanding of the conversation may be lost due to masking. Recognition is dimmed. A feeling of invincibility behind the mask may be born, which in turn could bring about carelessness. All this in the name of mask safety.
Masked Living Equals a Stunted Soul
Similarly, when we live masked in our spiritual lives much the same qualities present themselves. The outward smile may be seen, but our spiritual masks keep others from seeing realness. When masked spiritually, our lives leave question marks in the minds of the people we meet. We don’t recognize the real person behind the mask of perfection.
Misunderstandings result which bring about dissension and division.
Invincibility happens when we lean on a set of standards, mannerisms and traditions. The dot every “i” and cross every “t” mentality will get us nowhere in the eyes of God. Wrapping our righteous robes about us and masking all of the shadows lurking in our soul will not gain us entrance into heaven. It is in a vital relationship with God, that the unmasking of the soul begins. We must become unmasked when we come before a holy God.
When a person has been raised by a generation who never felt it right to let on that things were never less than perfect finds one more than a little leary to unmask one’s feelings. Consequently, we are more prone to the denial of the felt needs in our spirit because of the stoic personalities we have come in contact with during our childhood.
This brings with it a danger of pushing God away, because we have ‘learned’ to handle life on our own. That invincibility mentality should be a danger signal to our eternal soul. As we acknowledge this mentality we can come before a God that stands ready to breathe new life into souls that have been stunted by circumstances, wrong beliefs, or a masked spirit.
We must become unmasked before our Creator. When we do, He can lead us into freedom from sin. For it is when we confess our sins, that we find the promise of forgiveness at work in our lives.
Living Unmasked
Growth happens when we continue in our relationship with God. When the hurts come and the wounds of yesteryear surface take them to God. It is He alone, that can take what is broken and bring beauty to our soul. We must not pick up our masks again, and become unknown.
Human nature tends to purport only the good. When we begin again to deny our hurts and mask our lacerations in the name of dignity we start down the road of repression. This is not to say we must lay our wounds out for all and sundry to jeer at. On the other hand, we must with truthfulness lay them before God.
“Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”
Psalm 51:6
The desire of God’s heart is for each of us to live with an unmasked soul. As we bring our own brokenness to Him…the petty thoughts, the judgmental spirit, the compassionless heart, the selfish desires, past hurts, bitterness of spirit…He will remake us into His likeness.
Go deep into the soul with God and you will find wisdom not of this world. We must let go of anything that is not aligned with God’s way of whole-hearted living.
Our soul has a need for God that is only met with a vital ongoing relationship with Him. As we unmask the brokenness that resides within us, God will mend us.
Yes, becoming unmasked brings vulnerability, but with God it brings approachability. Lean on Him. Trust His heart as He remakes you into His likeness. Choose to live unmasked.
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