What’s behind the mask? Getting a closer look

Reflecting on the many different opinions on masks that I’ve observed over the past several weeks, I pondered what might be behind the mask.

To mask or not to mask?

I was in a meeting this week, well you know, with a computer interface looking at the faces of five friends. We were talking about in-person gatherings and mask wearing.

I started thinking about different ways people have been associated with masks. I’m just going to focus on three: wearing them, not wearing them, or making them.

Now if you ask people, some have pretty strong opinions about their position, others may just “go along to get along.”

What had my curiosity was why people had so many different opinions on the topic.

What’s behind the mask?

Some people wear them out of a sense of duty or responsibility. For others in an at-risk category, the mask may mean safety. For someone else it’s oppressive or restrictive in one way or another. And for another making masks is a way to make a difference.

While some people have stepped toward the mask, others have stepped away from it, but we’ve all been impacted and affected by it. I think this is by design.

A wise friend once told me that God allows issues to rise to the surface so that we can deal with them. This also means He can deal with them.

Masking my emotions

I don’t know about you, but when I’m stressed, I’m not good at masking my true emotions or feelings. Whatever effort I’ve taken prior to that point to gloss over, disguise, or cover up what’s bothering me, rises to the surface.

Often times I might try to stuff it down. But other times, when I take the time to address what’s behind the intensity of my feelings, especially when I invite Jesus along for the emotional roller coaster ride, I get closer to the real reason behind the mask.

I get closer to Jesus.

Not alone

And when I recognize that I am not alone in this way of thinking, this way of being in the world, I can offer grace to someone else and their stance, knowing that I don’t know what’s behind the mask for them.

Stress fractures

In our conversation on Friday, I mentioned what I’m calling, “stress fractures.”

These moments of stress start to fracture our façade, the mask we try to keep in place.

Weaken the wall

The beauty of these stress fractures is that they weaken the wall we place around our hearts and more of our true selves starts to seep out. And the more we allow our true selves to be exposed, the more we are exposed to the unconditional love of Jesus, who loves us in spite of our flaws and weaknesses.

He also loves those around us in spite of theirs.

Jesus loves

So as we go about our business with our masks firmly, or not so firmly, in place, may we remember that Jesus loves each one of us unconditionally.

Jesus loves me this I know or do I?

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me. Psalm 139:1 NIV