“We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:2 MSG)

Since the onset of the pandemic, there have been intense debates all across the country over the wearing of masks as a means to curtail the spread of COVID-19. Mandates have been imposed to wear the masks and demonstrations organized protesting against wearing them.

With all the talk about the masks, I will venture to say they were being worn long before COVID-19 ever reared its dreadful head. These are the masks not visible to the human eye. Years ago, I wore one daily—hiding my brokenness and not wanting anyone to see who was actually behind it. This mask did not conceal my physical appearance; however, it disguised my emotional pain and insecurities. My reality was those feelings of alienation, rejection, and inadequacy that privately consumed me. To suppress those feelings, I veiled them with a bright smile, attractive personal appearance, and a drive for personal perfection. I could be the life of the party while simultaneously having my own secret battle of insecurities raging within my spirit.

We tend to mask our inner feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, depression, guilt, unforgiveness, and loneliness with outward behaviors such as big personalities, obsessive control, anger, bulimia, anorexia; or it can manifest as shopaholics, workaholics, or alcoholics all to camouflage the misery and pain felt within. These feelings possibly could have derived from a traumatic childhood occurrence, divorce or broken relationships, domestic abuse, death of a loved one, or being raised without a mother or father in one’s life (just to name a few).

Several years ago, in one of my counseling sessions, the therapist asked me the one question that would change my life–“Who are you?” My response was, “I am a wife and mother,” He asked again, “Without your family, who are you?” I did not have a response to his question. At that time, I had no idea who God had created me to be and what was the purpose for my life. That day, I made a conscious decision to confront those feelings of inadequacy while seeking to destroy the source from where they originated. In doing so, I had to make several adjustments in my life—allowing some relationships to end and distancing myself from others. Since that day, I have been on a quest to discover my purpose and it has brought me to this point in my life. Today, as a certified professional life coach, I vow to serve and assist others in moving past the same struggles I experienced. 

Let’s remove the mask, heal from past hurts, and lead an amazing, productive life according to God’s purpose and plan for you. I leave you with the poem titled, “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar:                   

We wear the mask that grins and lies; it hides our cheeks and shades our eyes.

This debt we pay to human guile;  

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, and mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise in counting all your tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us, while we wear the mask.

We smile, but O great Christ, our cries to thee from tortured souls arise.   

We sing, but oh the clay is vile beneath your feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise, We wear the mask! 

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