BY KLAUS DORING
WE ALL wear masks, and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin.
Before Ash Wednesday, one can experience in my home country Germany people wearing masks of faces like animals, horrible human faces or the devil. Why all these masquerades?
Actors and actresses on stage or in movies also wear masks. They pretend to be what they are not. They play a role. Hence, in Greek they are called “hypocrites”.
In our lives, we always wear masks. Please think about it, and glory! You will understand that we do not want to show people our real selves because of the fear of rejection or displeasure of other people.
In society, they call it public relations. Men and women would go out smiling and greeting other people politely with a set of purpose: to win them to their business or organization.
But the more important point is: should we always wear masks in our daily life? Can we not put these masks aside and be our true selves?
Should we be always afraid to show to people in our surroundings what we are before God, who sees everything?
Maybe we could look back on what William Congreve (1670-1729) wrote in his “Preface to Dryden”: “No mask like open truth to cover lies as to go naked is the best disguise”.
But let’s remember, even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, wore the mask of being human. “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us!”
Later, people thought he was a lawbreaker, an impostor, claiming to be God, a seducer of the people. “I have hidden my face from them and they did not recognize me!”
Let’s try to put our masks aside from time to time, especially, if we are together with people we can trust.
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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com./PN
