Masks: Why We Wear Them – Part 1 of 3

This post is part one of a three part series on masks. Part two is about why we keep masks on. Part three is about taking masks off.

Scripture

“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.”
–Luke 12:2 (NIV)

Thoughts

“Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.” –from the Wizard of Oz
Often times, we feel more comfortable standing behind some sort of curtain or mask. We feel like there are things we need to hide or keep secret. We allow others to see some of who we are, but not everything. By wearing this kind of mask, we stop being real. Taking off the mask means being willing to take an adventure where the outcome is uncertain. It may seem scary. It won’t be easy. But let me ask you a question – What do you gain by keeping on the mask?

“Who is that masked man?” –from The Lone Ranger
Keeping on the mask shelters us from the rest of the world. This may not be bad, but it could keep us from getting to know people and keeping others from getting to know us. We keep masks on sometimes for good reasons. The Lone Ranger used the mask to help people, but it didn’t define who he is. The mask was a part of him that allowed to act differently than when the mask was off. In real life, this isn’t what happens when we keep the mask on. We were designed for something greater. Any mask we wear lessens this purpose and magnifies a much lesser one.

“A man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” –Oscar Wilde
If I’m wearing a mask, I can tell you anything I want and feel safe. I get to define the mask. I become inwardly focused, not outwardly focused. This means that all of my interactions are more about ME than anyone or anything else. In trying to build anything worthwhile, it needs to be more about US, not me. Our focus needs to be in the right place. How can we talk about anything real if a lot of what I’m adding to the mix is fake? Over time, this won’t work. If we continue to be fake with others and ourselves, we become fools. We need to create a strong bond. This cannot happen if one person is bonding with a mask or persona that isn’t authentic. Want an example? How about most of the romantic relationships teenagers get into with each other. Girls wants love. Guys want something else. Girls are willing to do anything for love. Guys are willing to do anything to get something else. They break up!

“A mask tells us more than a face.” –Oscar Wilde
It’s a heart issue! The heart can be deceitful and can become a mask. The mask can, and will, take over the longer you wear it. The very things you seek to hide or keep secret become who you are. The mask no longer hides … it starts protecting the very things you want to hide and allows them to fester, grow and take control. Like breaks on a car (or just about anything else for that matter) – if they aren’t checked and kept maintained, they will give out when you need them the most. If you don’t monitor your heart and keep it maintained, it will deteriorate and give out when you need it the most. In essence, the mask begins to kill your very being.

“In my brokenness, imperfection, and sin, He whispers three holy words: ‘You are Mine.’” –Margaret Feinberg (The Organic God)
A mask is, essentially, a lie. When lies are allowed to fester, grow and take control – the mask turns into something more difficult to simply take on and off. The lies get bigger. The mask becomes a big part of who you are. The mask begins to control you. (“I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog, too!) You, then, become controlled by the lies YOU created. No matter how dirty or messed up you get, you can always be cleaned up – or redeemed. However, this is not something you can do on your own.

We wear masks for a lot of different reasons. To choose to take off the mask is difficult. This is nothing compared to what the mask can do if you keep it on. This is where we’ll pick things up with part 2.

Imagery

One of the most famous masks of all time!

Sometimes, we need to travel through the darkness and be willing to shed the masks we wear to figure out where we’re supposed to go:

Our masks are often centered around the wrong person or pursuit, which can cause a Landslide.

What the world needs more than your mask is your True Colors.

Taking off the mask might be difficult, but you’ll get to the point where you’ll want to remove it anyway.