2 minute read
Who’s Behind Your Mask?
from October 2020
Gò0dNews forEveryone
Who’s Behind Your Mask?
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by Rhonda Beavers
Littering has always been a problem in this Many people believe that every appearance at church throwaway society we live in. Water bottles, earns them a coupon for a free “get rid of my sin” cigarette butts, store receipts—the list goes on spiritual mask. The adulterer covers the lips that kissed and on. his mistress the night before with his mask. The drunk
The anti-littering laws of the 1960s curbed this wears his spiritual mask to cover the stink of whiskey. national blight, but a new surge of refuse has begun The liar veils her false words with a virtual mask, and the with all the personal protective equipment we must coveter spoils his mask with the drool of envy. utilize to survive this modern-day pandemic we find We also wear spiritual gloves and gowns so that ourselves in. Parking lots are now frequently strewn with both disposable and handmade masks as well as latex gloves in all colors of the rainbow. After these articles have served their purpose to protect us from contamination, they are eagerly abandoned.
Aside from the clutter of the landscape, there is something else that disturbs me even more about the obligatory masks. With myself and others wearing them, I cannot tell if someone is smiling at me, and I worry that we do not contaminate our church persona with the I am being rude by not returning the smile. Then again, plague of our weekday sins that lie underneath. how could I return it with my own mask in place? It's We discard these masks, gloves, and gowns when not only smiles that are concealed; it could be a frown, we leave home, when we leave church, or when we a sneer, or even a rudely protruding tongue. We cannot think we have left the presence of the Lord. We become know what truly lies behind the mask. It is even difficult unrecognizable to those who think they know us best. to recognize those we have known for years when twoIt is said that the road to hell is paved with good thirds of their face is covered. intentions. Perhaps that road is also littered with our
These literal masks are not unlike the spiritual masks discarded Sunday best masks and gloves. we wear in public, in church, or even at home sometimes. Who are you hiding from?
