The Christmas Chameleon

I’ve had a number of encounters recently where people revealing their true selves… for good or not! There was a person who inadvertently revealed their deep misogyny, and a man who conceded that an appearance of abundance was more important than reality. There was also an individual who asked that a generous donation remain anonymous, and a woman who went well beyond her comfort zone to provide the best for her child.

Intentionally or not, people spend a lot of time revealing a lot about themselves. And this tends to happen while trying to blend in and be unnoticed – which reminded me of the common misperception of chameleons, as we used to think they changed colour to match that of the background.

For some, the holiday season will be a time where they won’t even think about being their authentic selves – for this is simply who they are, and how they interact in the world.

For some, it could be uncomfortable as they present different versions of themselves with different people. Folks who are deceitful or two-faced will be uneasy that family or friend groups may overlap, and uncover different variations of those people.

For others, the chameleon may be a necessary state, masking aspects of themselves that may be unwelcomed in their gatherings.

Identity is important; as is accepting the identity of those God has put into our lives. The gift of God's love should give us the confidence of be ourselves in the world, without camoflage. The gift of God's love should inspire us to be genuine in our welcome to all of God's people, creating and maintaining an environment where everyone is comfortable.

For those who only know acceptance, may they recognise the blessing and extend it to others.
For those who choose multiple personas, may they do the interior work to genuinely know themselves, and choose future social circles where they can engage without duplicity.
For those who feel need to keep their identities hidden, may they know the comfort of safe spaces where they can be their true selves.

And for all of us: may we be comfortable in our identity as children of God; may we realise and celebrate that God loved us all into life to be as we are; may we collectively seek ways to be safe space for everyone – where chameleon presentation will not be necessary.