Who are you behind the mask? We all hide our true natures in one way or another behind facades that present what we believe others want from us, need from us, or, at times, reflect how or who we wished we would be.
As we unpack the Russian doll of self, under the niceties of our surface human reactions is a layer that unconsciously frightens us to imagine another seeing. This is the layer of hidden ego, the part of you that, while in church on Sunday, might be criticizing what the preacher is wearing or the singing voice of the person behind you, or that is busy outlining tomorrow’s schedule of activities during the sermon. This is the layer that is terrified to be seen, and, if I told you I had telepathic abilities, would send most of us into a panic.
It is a rare human relationship that is vulnerable enough to allow the other to see this layer–the rare relationship that mirrors God’s relationship with us and embraces the messy, the imperfect, and gives the other room to be human. What a gift we grant each other when we fearlessly reveal our own brokenness and witness the perfectly imperfect nature of each other.
For once we remove that second layer of the doll, at the center is perfection itself–the divine bright light of God within. To see that light in ourselves and others, we must first love and embrace the ugly “real” layer that we so badly want to hide.
Consider when someone loved you enough to embrace your messy interior, when you felt safe enough to drop the niceties and relax into a peaceful, vulnerable openness. Though your flaws were on parade, you felt safe, seen for the complex, extraordinary creation of God that you are. Consider how that radical love changes you. Yes, your flaws were revealed, but also the absolute goodness beneath the flaws, the goodness of your soul that shines brightest when the humanness is also seen and loved.
I offer you two challenges. First, think of a relationship where you can choose to be intentionally vulnerable and transparent. Who can you invite beneath the intentionally orderly exterior? Who can you give the gift of being authentic with? Second, who can you love unconditionally; who can you embrace fully, imperfections and all, to help reveal the Spirit within?
Livingly authentically, from being, and seeing through the costumes of our brothers and sisters to the heart of who they are is indeed rare. Yet it is from this countercultural way of being that real, lasting change is possible. Change within ourselves, in our relationships, and in our world at large. This is the way that Jesus Himself moved through the world, free of all facades, God’s power coursing through him.
It is time to be radically honest and open with each other, to allow the light of love to pierce our inner darkness and to call to the forefront the love of God that we are. Radical vulnerability brings us home to heaven together.