MASKS—The state of Alabama has mandated one more month of mask wearing!
Masks wearers are entertaining to say the least. My favorite pastime in the last month has been watching people and how they wear their mask. Most wear them under their nose. Some under their chin. The funniest of all are the ones who wear their mask hanging from their ear like an ornament. I’m not certain if there is a mandate on how exactly a mask should be worn. At least these people are wearing a mask.
Amusing People
Then more amusing are the people who are driving alone in their car with a mask. Or pumping gas with no one in 20 yards, but they have their masks over their face. One thing for sure is exercise is not a problem because I have had to return to my car multiple times because I forgot to put on my mask before entering a store.
Mask Advantages
Advantages of mask wearing besides the virus factor are few, but for sure lipstick is not necessary. Makeup below the eye is a waste of time because the mask rubs it off. I suppose if you are inclined, you could stick out your tongue at someone and they will never know. Learning to smile with the eyes is important to me. Friendliness is essential to a Southerner. A mask worked to an advantage for my grandson who had to recite something by memory with a group. He forgot some of the lines, but it was not noticed because he was wearing his mask.
Mask Cover
Mask can be defined as something to conceal or disguise. Made me think about how we mask our lives. We cover up the things we don’t want people to know or see. For some reason, we don’t want anyone to know how we truly feel. So many of us attend church pretending life is wonderful and we are doing exceptionally well. Masking the pain or problems in our lives is somehow what we think we should do.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
Uncover Our Faces
Linden Baptist Church has been having a prayer time on Sunday afternoon. The crowd has been slim, but the prayers have been powerful. Each week the pastor, Bro. Chris Kynard, has asked if anyone would like to ask for prayer for themselves. Why is it so hard to admit that we need prayer? Are we afraid to uncover our faces, to remove our masks? Heaven forbid that anyone should know we have a need in our lives. A body of believers are supposed to gather and offer comfort and edify each other. We all have unique experiences, but God wants us to use our experience to help someone else that is going through the same thing. How can we help when the burdens are covered by a mask?
“You can’t keep your true self hidden forever; before long you’ll be exposed. You can’t hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can’t whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day’s coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town.” Luke 12:1-3 MSG
Masks Slip
Another thing we mask is the sin in our lives. The Bible clearly states that one day our mask will slip and our sin will be discovered. We can’t act one way during the week and put on a ‘mask’ on Sunday to cover up our true self. Others may be fooled a short time, but God knows. Remove the mask, repent and seek forgiveness.
Remove the Mask
Wearing a mask to prevent the spread of COVID may be what we need to do when appropriate. Wearing a mask over our pain, burdens or sins is not what we need to do. Allow someone to help you, encourage you and walk beside you. How freeing it is to remove our mask and breathe. Even more freeing it will be to uncover the things in our life that we have hidden and allow someone to help comfort you.
Paula Wallace
