When I was leading a youth ministry group several years ago, I often talked to the teenagers about masks. Not literal masks, but rather more like identities.
If they would be going out with their friends, they’d put on one mask, but around their parents, they put on a different mask. Some had so many masks/identities, they would get overwhelmed trying to keep it all together.
My challenge to them was to be real. Be authentic. Not just some of the time, but all the time. Wearing masks and presenting ourselves differently all the time only leads to problems. But it’s not just teens who are guilty of this kind of behavior.
In my work, I find more and more adults living lives that are not fully real. Their behavior has plenty of masks to choose from. When they go to church, they wear one mask. At, work, it’s another. Home, maybe one mask for the kids, another for their spouse. Eventually, it all catches up with them, and problems come to light.
Maybe you know people who are in these kinds of situations. I know plenty.
Here’s the challenge for all of us. We need to live authentically, not just some of the time, but all the time. Being real leads to being whole, and that’s where we all want to be.
One of the main ways we can do this is to live in the Light. By keeping large parts of ourselves hidden, we can’t be real. We can’t live the lives that we’re called to live. We will never be who we want to be.
So, I have a challenge for you. This weekend, take some time and be introspective. Are there any parts of your life that need to be brought into the Light? Pray about it, and ask God to reveal those areas where you need help. Then, let him help you.
Maybe you’ll need someone’s help, be it a priest, counselor, or trusted friend.
I’ll make a promise to you. I’m going to spend some time this weekend reviewing my life too. We’re all in this together, folks. Let’s work on being real and living authentically. Without a doubt, that will make a positive difference in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Wouldn’t that be great?
