The Masks We Wear

My five-year old daughter appeared in my bedroom door this morning with her woodland fairy costume over her pajamas. You see, the tooth fairy has been at our house for two consecutive nights as both children have lost teeth. She was positively gleeful as she bounded into my room telling me about her costume and how she wished she could wear it to school. I have to admit that there are days I wish I could put on a tiara, a princess dress or ninja outfit just because I feel like it.
It would be fun to face the day with that kind of flair and whimsy. But as adults we do put on masks quite often.

The masks we wear aren't necessary bad. In fact, they can be a very important part of our existence in the world. Sometimes we need to act our way out of bad moods. We may have a professional mask we put on at work and have a totally different mask when we are with friends. The problem becomes when the mask gets in the way of who were really are. When we can no longer distinguish between the mask and our true selves.

I have to admit that there are times in my life where that exact thing has happened. I get so used to the mask that I lose who I am. It's easy to do. We don't want to burden people. We're afraid others may not like "the real" us. We don't know who "real us" is. So what do we do when this identity crisis happens?

Personally, I wish that I had a quick and easy answer for this. What I do know is that part of finding my "real" identity is to remember that I am made in the image of God. That I am God's precious creation. Knowing this provides me with a solid foundation and pattern for discovering and being comfortable with me. Yes, there may be some alterations that need to be made to some parts of me, but the basic pattern doesn't change. And with the foundation of being God's creation, it's like being able to put on a tiara for the day. There's joy, fulfillment and whimsy.

I think my goal will be to remind myself that with God there is not need for masks. God loves me just as I am. Being God's beloved creation is an amazing identity unto itself. The other masks and costumes that I put can be fun to try out temporarily but the real me is pretty fantastic too.