Masquerade

"Masquerading around day after day as a normal person is exhausting." Is it any wonder the author of this quote wishes to remain anonymous? If we believe we are living in a masquerade or "behind a mask", isn't that the first clue that we don't want anyone to know the real person? I think at times we can hide behind the mask for so long, we look in the mirror and no longer recognize the face staring back at us. What happens in life that we purposely dress for the masquerade and then forget to ever get out of costume? I suppose it is life itself that happens. In a true masquerade type mask, the only covered part of the face is the eyes. The eyes tell our story. They show what's in our heart. They send out rays of laughter, tears of joy, and glimpses of peace. The eyes well to the brim with warm tears and cry with pain, sorrow, grief, confusion, hurt feelings, disenchantment, the list goes on. Sometimes they appear hollow or deep set. On good days, they are wide open, filled with excitement, surreal with hope and passion and fixed on "the prize." Some say a life well lived is defined by the creases formed around our eyes that appear everytime we smile or laugh. When then do we find it necessary to "masquerade as a normal person to the point of exhaustion?" Perhaps it is anytime we look anywhere but up. IICor. 4:18 says..." as we fix our eyes not on the things that are seen BUT on the things that are unseen". When we take our eyes off Jesus, we lose our hope. Our little world becomes lost and we put on the mask and head off to the masquerade, hoping to hide our eyes and to appear as a normal person. Sometimes the "party" goes longer than we anticipated and our vision eventually becomes so blurred, we feel lost forever. Sometimes it takes that special person who may ask a question as simple as "How can I be praying for you?", that reminds us to take off the mask and just be real. Ps. 121:1-2 "I lift my eyes up to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made the heaven and the earth." Let your eyes be uncovered and looking up. Who needs normal?