I can remember the Christmas' of my youth. When I was a child, I could not wait for Christmas morning. I was anxious to see what gifts I waiting for me under the Christmas tree. Each Christmas, I always worried about what gifts I would buy for others. I always wondered if I would have enough money to buy gifts and if they would be the right gifts to give. As circumstances have changed, and as I've grown older, I had to reevaluate my understanding of Christmas. Are we so obsessed with Christmas gifts that we've lost the true meaning of this season? Many people fret and worry about what gifts that they'll give and receive. People will pile up a large amount of debt to buy gifts, and many will have little money to spend on gifts. In these days, it is not uncommon to see the Christmas shopping season arrive in stores long before the celebration of Thanksgiving. It would seem that Santa can now have Thanksgiving dinner even before the Christmas season even starts.
It seems to me, that the Christmas season has been stripped of it's true meaning. What we are seeing is the "secularization" of Christmas. There has been overtime, a removable of Christ from the season. Many focus on the many gifts that they'll both give and receive, rather then the one gift given to the whole world. We'll receive gifts that will give joy for a time, but will soon lose their luster. These gifts will not last; they'll fade and fall away in time. If we are to focus on 'gifts' this holiday season, then let us focus upon the great and lasting gift that God has given to us-His own dear Son.
The person of Santa Claus is based on an early Bishop named; St. Nicholas. He was famous for giving gifts to the poor. He is remembered each December 5. Different countries around the world have different ways to celebrate St. Nicholas day. In the United States, there are also different customs. One custom is that on the night of December 5th, children would put out one empty shoe(sock). The following morning, they would find the shoe or sock full of candy and presents. If the children had been "good," they received gifts. If they had been "bad," they received a lump of coal.
Do we deserve the good gifts from God? People might appear "good" in the eyes of the world, but God knows the human condition. Our own "goodness" does not erase the reality of sin. Because of sin, human kind does not deserve God's good gifts and favor; but a "lump of coal." Human kind deserves to be punished like naughty children.
The Christmas season points us to the love of God for sinners. God gave to the human race a gift of lasting value. God's gift is summed up in these words; "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) God gave of His Son so that all who believe will have forgiveness and eternal life. Through Jesus, believers have a lasting gift that does not fade or tarnish. It is a gift for all time.
When people receive gifts, they sometimes will exchange them for something else. With this gift, an exchange did take place. Through his suffering and death, Christ took on our sinfulness, and we took on his righteousness and holiness. This is called the "blessed exchange." Through faith in Christ, we receive many lasting gifts
and a peace that never ends. When we think about this great gift, may we exclaim along with St. Paul; "Thank God for his Son-a gift too wonderful for words!" (1 Cor. 9:15-Living Bible) Jesus is that wonderful and lasting gift that God has given us.
The Christmas season is a wonderful time to tell others about Jesus. We can tell others that God showed His love in giving us the gift that gives both peace and joy. This is grace; God's undeserved kindness. This season reminds us of God's grace shown to all. While we'll focus on buying and receiving gifts, we let focus more on the gift that God has given. It is a more lasting and priceless gift that blesses us for all time.
May you have a blessed and joyful Christmas.
Merciful and most loving God, by whose will and bountiful gift Jesus Christ our Lord humbled himself that he might exalt mankind, and became flesh that he might renew in us the divine image; grant unto us the inheritance of the meek,perfect in us thy likeness, and bring us at last to rejoice in beholding thy beauty, and with all thy saints, to glorify thy grace, who hast given thine only Son to be the Saviour of the world. Amen.
"Praise be, Jesus Christ!"
Friday, December 5, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
The Wearing of Mask-Being our real selves.
I have been working on short stories for some years. I have written some short stories which I hope to have published in the near future. One of my short stories is entitled:The Man behind the maskThis story deals with a young pastor who is struggling with his own identity. He has two different personalities, and he is struggling to discover who he really is. He presents two different sides to himself; one side is his public self, and the other side is his private self. He tries to "wear a mask" so that people will not see his true self. He plays the roles that others have assigned to him, but he has another side that he keeps hidden. He is fearful about being honest because he has much to lose. He's worried about what others might think and say. Throughout the story, I use a quotation from one Shakespeare's plays. It's from his plays, Hamlet.It speaks about being true to one's self. This is something that confronts the young pastor throughout the story. Is this something that confronts each one of us? Are we true to God and to ourselves? Are we living true and authentic lives, or do we live out the roles assigned to us by others?
As I worked through a study of the main character, something hit me. I had to ask myself; "How much of this character is really me?"> When I write a story, I don't often think about my connection to the main character. This time, I did. I realized that I was writing about myself. I started to wonder if I was being truly authentic, or if I been playing roles assigned to me by others. I then thought about the title, and then I had to ask; had I been wearing a mask?
I believe that all people do wear "masks." Some people present many different sides of themselves. They allow others to see so much of their personality, while concealing some parts of who they really are. Their private lives at times are far different then what they present in public. This is common of most people. Wearing such masks, playing such games can cause people not to be honest with other people and with themselves. In order to get along, or to get ahead, some people are willing to play the game. They are willing to play the roles assigned to them by others. They don't want to "rock the boat" or to stand out. They do not want to be "outed." So rather then assert who they are, they remain silent. They are afraid of what they might lose or what others might say. I don't know about other people, but I've had to ask myself; "Am I happy? Am I being real?"
As I was writing this story, I was confronted with these, and many other questions.These are questions that I have found hard to ignore and to avoid. They keep coming back and continue to cause me to think. I have to be honest; I have tried to avoid these hard questions. This could be that I am fearful of the answers and the outcome. I like many, continue to play the game and wear masks. I like many, am afraid of what others might think.
I believe that someone once said; "All the world's a stage." We have a part to play. But what happens when the acting is done and when the masks come off? There comes a time when we have to stop playing games and get real. Are we real with ourselves? Have we taken the time and effort to discover who we are, not what others say what we should be? What role does God, and not others have for us? The answer to these and other questions do not come overnight. It takes a lifetime of prayer, thought, struggle, and acceptance. This takes faith and courage. It takes honesty.
As I began the work on this story, my mind was drawn to the words from the play Hamlet.Here is the quotation that I used for the story;
"This above all; To thine own self to be true; And it must follow, as the night and the day, Thou canst not than be false to any man."
These words confronted the main character in my story, and they also confronted me. I had to think about this quotation, and then think about my own journey. There have been changes in my life that have caused me to take an inventory of myself. Strange as it may sound, I have found myself asking this question; "Who am I ?"
There comes a time when people should stop and ponder their identity. Perhaps there comes a time when people should stop and think about their lives and the roles that God has for them. The discovery of self goes on through the journey. God never promised that this journey of discovery would be easy. He has promised that He knows His plans for each one of us.(Jeremiah 29:11) He will guide each of us and help us to see ourselves. He knows who we are; we are His children. He made us, and has redeemed us through the blood of His Son. He knows us better then we know ourselves. We should concern ourselves with being true to Him, and to live out the roles that HE assigns us. He'll show us who we are. He'll show us our purpose. He'll never stop loving us, no matter what.
The best advice that I can give is this; be yourself, not someone else. The world will certainly try to force roles upon us that do not suit us. At times, we'll have little say in the matter. Nevertheless, there are those times when we must throw off the roles and assert ourselves. Walk with God, listen to His voice. He'll show you who you are. Don't let others dictate who you are. Know yourself, and know the God who created you. The world presents images and stereotypes of how people should be. If you try to measure up to the world's standards, you'll lose your soul and your identity. All that you can do is to be yourself, not someone else. If you try to live up to other people's images, you'll never be happy. Chart your own course.Let God and conscience be your guide. Let your true self come out. You might either surprise or disappoint people, that will happen. It is better to be honest with yourself and with others.
This is a life long journey, but you won't travel it alone. There will be those who will walk with you and support you. God will give you guidance along the way. It won't be easy, but growth never is. The results will be well worth it. Once you discover the person that God has made you to be, you'll find peace. This will help you to move forward. May we take hold of God, and have the courage to honestly be the people that God has made us to be.
Based on the story to be completed: "The Man behind the mask."
As I worked through a study of the main character, something hit me. I had to ask myself; "How much of this character is really me?"> When I write a story, I don't often think about my connection to the main character. This time, I did. I realized that I was writing about myself. I started to wonder if I was being truly authentic, or if I been playing roles assigned to me by others. I then thought about the title, and then I had to ask; had I been wearing a mask?
I believe that all people do wear "masks." Some people present many different sides of themselves. They allow others to see so much of their personality, while concealing some parts of who they really are. Their private lives at times are far different then what they present in public. This is common of most people. Wearing such masks, playing such games can cause people not to be honest with other people and with themselves. In order to get along, or to get ahead, some people are willing to play the game. They are willing to play the roles assigned to them by others. They don't want to "rock the boat" or to stand out. They do not want to be "outed." So rather then assert who they are, they remain silent. They are afraid of what they might lose or what others might say. I don't know about other people, but I've had to ask myself; "Am I happy? Am I being real?"
As I was writing this story, I was confronted with these, and many other questions.These are questions that I have found hard to ignore and to avoid. They keep coming back and continue to cause me to think. I have to be honest; I have tried to avoid these hard questions. This could be that I am fearful of the answers and the outcome. I like many, continue to play the game and wear masks. I like many, am afraid of what others might think.
I believe that someone once said; "All the world's a stage." We have a part to play. But what happens when the acting is done and when the masks come off? There comes a time when we have to stop playing games and get real. Are we real with ourselves? Have we taken the time and effort to discover who we are, not what others say what we should be? What role does God, and not others have for us? The answer to these and other questions do not come overnight. It takes a lifetime of prayer, thought, struggle, and acceptance. This takes faith and courage. It takes honesty.
As I began the work on this story, my mind was drawn to the words from the play Hamlet.Here is the quotation that I used for the story;
"This above all; To thine own self to be true; And it must follow, as the night and the day, Thou canst not than be false to any man."
These words confronted the main character in my story, and they also confronted me. I had to think about this quotation, and then think about my own journey. There have been changes in my life that have caused me to take an inventory of myself. Strange as it may sound, I have found myself asking this question; "Who am I ?"
There comes a time when people should stop and ponder their identity. Perhaps there comes a time when people should stop and think about their lives and the roles that God has for them. The discovery of self goes on through the journey. God never promised that this journey of discovery would be easy. He has promised that He knows His plans for each one of us.(Jeremiah 29:11) He will guide each of us and help us to see ourselves. He knows who we are; we are His children. He made us, and has redeemed us through the blood of His Son. He knows us better then we know ourselves. We should concern ourselves with being true to Him, and to live out the roles that HE assigns us. He'll show us who we are. He'll show us our purpose. He'll never stop loving us, no matter what.
The best advice that I can give is this; be yourself, not someone else. The world will certainly try to force roles upon us that do not suit us. At times, we'll have little say in the matter. Nevertheless, there are those times when we must throw off the roles and assert ourselves. Walk with God, listen to His voice. He'll show you who you are. Don't let others dictate who you are. Know yourself, and know the God who created you. The world presents images and stereotypes of how people should be. If you try to measure up to the world's standards, you'll lose your soul and your identity. All that you can do is to be yourself, not someone else. If you try to live up to other people's images, you'll never be happy. Chart your own course.Let God and conscience be your guide. Let your true self come out. You might either surprise or disappoint people, that will happen. It is better to be honest with yourself and with others.
This is a life long journey, but you won't travel it alone. There will be those who will walk with you and support you. God will give you guidance along the way. It won't be easy, but growth never is. The results will be well worth it. Once you discover the person that God has made you to be, you'll find peace. This will help you to move forward. May we take hold of God, and have the courage to honestly be the people that God has made us to be.
Based on the story to be completed: "The Man behind the mask."
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