UnMasked

Halloween is upon us again! The annual festivity of fun, frivolity, and unrealistically-small candies.

I’ve shared in the past my thoughts on the history of the celebration; from the celebration of a successful harvest to nourish a cold winter, to the tradition of sharing food with everyone who asks (while ‘costumes’ preserved their dignity in asking).

And I’ve been thinking about costumes this year. (My recent unpacking of the ‘Halloween box’ has helped with this!)

At Halloween, we dress up to be something we aren’t. We cover our bodies and faces with a semblance of something else. Some of these may be aspirational (ballerina or astronaut); some are comically unrealistic (teddy bear or alien), some are fun (clown or witch). When we don that Halloween mask, we know we are representing something else – something ‘other’ than who we are.
Yet so often, we were a different mask in real life. People can put on a socially accepted affectation: smiling through depression, for example, or sharing angry outbursts to cover insecurity. We know people who have put on a face they think others are expecting or will most easily receive/accept; we know we have at times been those people.

For those of us with faith, we know we do not need a mask; for we know that God sees us for who we are. Whatever is happening, God sees our true selves. We can wear a mask for others to see; we can wear a mask when it’s too difficult to see ourselves in the mirror.

But God sees us. Perfectly, authentically, lovingly. God sees us unmasked.
This can be uncomfortable for us at times, as we are accustomed to keeping certain aspects hidden. Yet as we mature spiritually, there can be great comfort in being so perfectly seen – for it means that we are perfectly known.

“I have searched you out and I know you,” says the God who loved us into being; the God who loves us throughout our days, who will love us into eternity. God is still searching for us, that we can see ourselves and love ourselves unmasked; that we may create community where others know themselves to be welcomed and celebrated as they too unmask.

It’s not easy to be unmasked in this world, but it is worth it. So while we have fun with Halloween costuming of characters and critters, let us do our best to become comfortable – and comforting – to the everyday process of unmasking ourselves before God.

Praying for Peace

Praying Hands by Albrecht Dürer

I attended an information-and-prayer session this week to learn more about, and pray for, the situation in Israel-Palestine. Obviously, our hearts were focused on the present situation of conflict, but part of our learning addressed the 75 years of geo-political conflict between states, the religious nuance of the region, the historical landscape of the conflict.*

We all understand it is a complex issue, an issue that we do not fully understand. Yet: we pray. We pray for peace, for health, and not just for the cessation of hostility but for an enduring commitment to supporting the humanity of the other.

One of our members, a gentleman I hold in high esteem, said that his wish was for leaders to sit down and pray together. “Praying Together Reduces Barriers” he said.**

While this was laid in the foundation of a discussion on present conflict, we can apply it to other conflicts: current and past; and hold in our hearts for potential disagreements of the future.

For we live in a world where conflict is a reality; it always has been and always will be.

Yet we live in the kin-dom of God, where we are called to seek peace and strive for justice. Which is easier to do when we are engaged in dialogue, intentionally speaking with one another and carefully including the Prince of Peace (who is already present, yet who we so often forget when we are riled up).

As the week continued and the wars around the world have continued, my heart has been torn by the devastation of conflict, and comforted by the promise that the peace of God is among us. My prayer has been that we would all lean in to this peace, to extend the reign of God, to commit to the hard work of reducing barriers in our own lives.

Lord, in your mercy; hear our prayer.





*Video can be found here: https://youxube.com/watch?v=fDe9mAmHsAM
**Paul Dumbrille

unStung

I was rather disheartened this past week, when a side effect of unseasonably warm weather meant a collection of stinging beasts at my front window. Having left the back door open so the dogs could meander in and out to the yard (repeatedly) without needing me to open the door each time, a decent number of stingers found their way inside the house.

For many, this is an inconvenience. I’m not aware of anyone who would intentionally encourage wasps into their home. For me, there was an element of fear connected to this – I am allergic to stings, and would prefer to leave my Epi-Pen and antihistamines unused.

I also know that the abundance of wasps in the area was due to the seasonal change; as we approach the cold weather these critters are simply searching for food before the deep freeze. They are acting in a time of survival. So, with decreasing food stocks in our gardens, the scarcity plays a role. They’re not ‘out to get me’ when they are stinging, they are simply hungry.

Hangry wasps. In the house. Not ideal.

The easiest option may have been simply to squash them against the window, and shut the door to prevent the dispersal of pheromones wasps produce when in distress. (These pheromones serve to attract other wasps to help with whatever the threat is.)

However, there was another option… a simple one, involving a glass and a piece of paper. I would catch the insect in the glass, trap it with the paper, take it outside and let it loose. It wasn’t very hard, and it wasn’t really any more of a risk to me than squishing them. (I did adjust the door to limit access, as well, though they seemed determined to check out my living room view!)

It's a perspective of how we interact with others. Sometimes, we interact in ways that are not ideal or happy.
We can control our response to folks, whatever the other person’s mood is. We do not have to tolerate negativity, we can remove it from our midst in a way that is peaceful (and ideally, helpful). We don’t need to know the circumstances of the other’s mood; but we can hope that whatever issues they are dealing with will be addressed in a beneficial way.
And we can hope that when we are not being our best selves, that others will extend the same peace to us.

I hope the wasps got what they needed to be well; while I am glad that they are no longer in proximity to me.

Inspiration

This past year, I have been reflecting on the important people in my life. I am so blessed to have amazing friends - near and far - who continue to inspire me day after day. These are folks who are there in good times and bad; I know I can call on them at any time to cry with me or laugh with me, or even just sit in the silence. 

These are formidable people who make my life better. They know the real me, and delight in that connection. And it's not just me; they find ways to reach out to their communities and make the world a better place.

One of these friends makes an effort to extend grace whenever she can, realising that a little bit of positivity can go a long way - and usually the folks we don't feel like extending grace to are the ones who need it the most.

One will send an occasional text saying "I appreciate you - I'm glad you're in my life."

One makes sure to really listen to the people he's with; knowing that a simple "how are you" without the commitment to engage in conversation isn't fair.

One is intentional about eye contact in conversation.

One will always express "you're welcome" to a "thank you".

One mails amusing cards, for no occasion, because the post shouldn't just be bills and flyers.

...You get the idea. There are more examples, and we all have them. These aren't the types of things that will be recorded in the history books, but they are the types of things that make my story better. And they inspire me to be better: a better friend, neighbour, Christian, human! And for them, I am grateful!

So on this Thanksgiving weekend, as I pause from raking leaves and unpacking more boxes and walking the dogs in the gorgeous weather, I'm taking time to dwell in that space of gratitude where I can thank God for the inspirational people in my life, and honour their gifts. 

I pray we all have someone we can call a true friend, who inspires us. I pray I can be such a friend to others as we share the journey.