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."