MASK
A covering worn on the face to conceal one's identity.
A covering, as of cloth, that has openings for the eyes, entirely or partly conceals the face.
A grotesque or comical representation of a face, worn especially to frighten or amuse.
A protective covering for the face or head.
A protective covering for the face or head.
It's pretty funny how when I look at these definitions I see myself in all of them. I guess that means I'm walking around with my own mask...or dare I say maskS.
Let's take a look at each definition one by one. Mask- a covering on the face to conceal one's identity. Press the pause button real quick...to conceal one's identity? If I sit down and ask myself, Diana who are you...I don't think I would be able to answer that accurately most of us will answer with adjectives or nouns like..."oh I'm a mom, a teacher, a nurse, I'm a risk taker, a go getter"...ect. Also, one of my ultimate favorites ..."I am a child of God". Now don't get me wrong all these are great characteristics and traits...and yes we do identify ourselves in Christ...but does that make me, me? I mean really who am I? If I don't really know who I am I can wear any mask I want and conceal the real me. I can wear my "child of God mask" for everyone to see but behind that mask is a confused broken woman, wondering am I really his child, if so why don't I feel part of his family. Maybe I invest all my time in teaching and I wear my teaching mask all the time because I don't feel like I can identify with anything or anyone else? What's your mask? When it comes to my identity I have a few good ones, because no one wants to know the real person behind it right? What would people think if they say Diana who are you? And I say well, I'm a selfish liar, manipulator, fearful insecure woman with rejection issues, I hurt people to protect myself. I'm a grudge holder, people pleaser, stab you in the back and still smile in your face type of girl." While all those thing could be true YOU must never know that so I'll just go back to my "child of God" mask and call it a day right? Something to think about.
Lets look at definition #2... Mask- A covering, as of cloth, that has openings for the eyes, entirely or partly conceals the face. This definition is clever. "opening for eyes" hence I can see you but you cannot see all of me. My biggest advantage of wearing a mask is, that I can see right through YOURS. Even if you don't have a mask I can see all your flaws...but guess what? I wont let you see mine and even when you do my mask will let me feel as if you are wrong and I'm right. A mask will allow you to see without being seen. It would allow you to see others faults, but when you look in the mirror yours are covered...Hence, taking the spec of dust out of someones eye becomes easier than taking the big old plank out of yours.
Definitions #3 is my favorite...Mask - A grotesque or comical representation of a face, worn especially to frighten or amuse. I love it when people tell me, you know Diana, when I first met you I thought you were so mean but once I got to know you I realized you so sweet :) ...I don't quite know how to take that sometimes. But it happens so frequently I guess i just got used to it. Could it be that past hurts and pains have created such a fear that upon meeting people my "grotesque" mask comes on to keep potential hurts away. Could my fear of more rejection cause me to unconsciously scare even good people away? What about the "amuse" part? This I know I'm good at. I can make a joke out of anything. Why? Because if your laughing at me your not hurting me, If you laugh it may seem like I'm full of laughs, and can't possibly be miserable inside right?
Lastly, Definition #4 Mask- A protective covering for the face or head. How profound...a "protective covering." Let's face it, our masks ultimate purpose is usually to keep ourselves safe. If I don't let you in, you won't hurt me, and If I happen to let you in, don't think for one moment I'm gonna show you the real me. With a mask your protected. How about this one, well if I tell her how I really feel, she may leave me, or If I share my struggles and issues they will judge me.If I let her know I miss her then I'll seem weaker than her. So what do we do? We wear our "happy masks", our "I don't need you masks", our "praise the Lord God Bless you sister masks"...there are so many. But the funny thing is, in wearing all these masks we are dying inside. What was meant to protect us is now causing us to become bitter, anxious, discontent individuals, who cries on the inside are overshadowed by our masks on the outside. Eventually, each Mask begins to play a major role in our life... so much so, that dependencies on these masks may cause us to not comprehend the role Christ should have in our life. Sadly, what ultimately happens is, the one who is suppose to play the main lead... doesn't even make it as an extra.
I love it. Sooo True.
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