Day Forty - Do you wear a mask?

That’s a question asked many times over the past few months. From full NHS PPE, through masks we’ve purchased in shops or made at home, to a scarf or bandana, we’ve all been finding the regulations chopping and changing about when, where and whether to wear one or not.

This year, with few exceptions, we’ve all had to wear a mask many times. Such exceptions include young children, the Bride & Groom at a wedding and anyone needing to prove their identity at a bank.

Over the years, there have been many examples of people who have worn masks: Spiderman and Captain America are well known. The Lone Ranger masked himself after being the sole survivor when a patrol of 6 Texas Rangers were massacred, and The Mask of Zorro was worn by a Mexican vigilante. The Hunch Back of Notre Dame is an 1831 novel written by Victor Hugo about a bell-ringer at the Cathedral who wore a mask while struggling to gain acceptance in society. Many children like to dress up as Batman, and fight villains like The Joker, that the clown-faced prince of crime. Perhaps they are saying to their parents they’re not naughty really, and they’re on the side of good.

Well, Christmas is coming. I wonder what the parents think sometimes.

Protection or Deception

The reasons many wear such masks falls into 2 groups. Some are protecting their identity for good reason, like Batman or the Lone Ranger. Others, like The Joker, are trying to deceive people into thinking they are better than they really are. Many masks hide who we are or what we’re really like.

For we all wear masks in many ways, and sadly, lockdown has increased such deception. Some have used it as an opportunity to mask the fact they are drinking much more alcohol than they should. Others have been trapped, suffering domestic abuse by someone who might wear a mask of caring, while actually controlling another person. The sufferer has tried to survive, wearing a mask of normality to hide the traumas they’re going through.

Masquerade

Modern Costume Parties have developed from Masquerade Balls, which originated from one where everyone was trying to hide their identity to shield themselves from catching a disease called the Red Death. The ball representing life and the final dance the attempt to avoid the inevitability of death.

God without a Mask

The world could never fully know God until Jesus came to reveal to us what God is genuinely like. He shows us the living God with no mask at all. Further, Jesus’ life also reveals to us what we’re really like, inside, and how far short we fall of what God requires. For yes, God truly knows us through and through, deep down. No mask can hide our true self from Him.

And yet he loves us. He wants us to come to him; warts, and all, acknowledging our failings and wrong doings, so that we may then receive his forgiveness and enter into a loving relationship with him. A relationship we were each made for.

Will you come to God without hiding behind any mask and let him change you and guide you through this life (and the next)? You could ask Him for that now.

Our Churches are most willing to help you live in the Freedom of not wearing such a mask through life.

Why not let someone help you?

Ian Jones