The Masks We Wear

In life, we dawn on ourselves many different masks (some call these labels). Some wear the mask of a career. Others, wear the masks of hobbies. Still other, put on the mask of happiness. While others wear the masks of sadness, illness. There are many types of masks, too many to mention. However, suffice it to say that each of us wear masks in our daily living.


However, the question is do we define the masks we wear or do we allow them to define who we are?

Many of us, live our lives dawning these masks, hiding and covering up who we truly are. As we journey throughout or lives, we hide from the ones we love, the ones who love us and ultimately ourselves. We take on ourselves the clutter of life and piling on additional *stuff* to complicate our lives even more. Some people have dawned so many masks, they no longer know who they truly are. But how is this being true to ourselves? How do we truly come face to face with true being, if we are continually hiding our true self?

The celebrated author, Ronald Rolheiser states: "We live knowing that others do not fully know and understand us and that others can never fully know and understand us, that they are ’out there’ and we are ’in here’. St. Paul calls this living as ’through a glass, darkly,’ a riddle, a veil, a mist of unreality that separates us from God and others, and from what is authentically real (1 Cor. 13:12-13)." (The Restless Heart, p.7)

One way to achieve the true encounter with ourselves and each other is by unveiling or removing the masks we wear. The philosophers of history call this moment, this unveiling, aletheia, translated from the Greek--aletheia (unveiling). If we remove the masks and let our true selves shine before all, we not only reach toward perfection, but then, we are transfigured into our more profound and genuine selves.

How we go about achieving this moment of aletheia is different for everyone. Some turn to the spiritual realm, others to the aesthetics, others turn to friends, others to counseling, others retreat, others play sports, and others turn to nature. The encounter with ourselves is one that can take place at any time and place. The unmasking/unveiling is one that is essential to the journey of our lives. Therefore, it is fitting that this encounter with our truest self begin at a familiar point in our lives, one that inspires and catapults us to the unveiling and discovery process.

Albeit, the encounter with our truest self is not an easy one. Throughout our lives, especially in the fast-paced lives we live here in the United States, we are conditioned to dawn the masks. Sometimes, these masks are put on as a necessity. Other times, the masks are put on as defense mechanism in response to our surrounding states of being. Yet, to be truly edified, to truly enter into a genuine encounter with self and others, we must unveil our true selves and let ourselves and others encounter the beauty that is OUR TRUEST SELF. In this encounter, we are uplifted, we are fortified, and we are resolved to become the best self/person we can be. We are works in progress, and that progress needs to be shown for what it is and not hidden behind some mask.

Ask yourself, in the encounter of self and others, do we remove the masks that we wear? Do we allow ourselves and others to see us for who we truly are? Do we engage ourselves without any presuppositions? Do we learn to understand ourselves and others as through a glass?

The unveiling of the masks we wear is a life-long journey. Let is begin it! Doing so will let us encounter who we are, and allow us to better our lives (be is spiritual, psychological, emotional, physical, or relational betterment).

Full of Wisdom

P.S.--"In the torment of the insufficiency of everything attainable, we come to realize that, in this life, all symphonies must remain unfinished."--Karl Rahner





Disclaimer: These blogs are all original works are resulting from of inspiration, many years of study, contemplation and personal reflection, prayer, life experiences, and encounters with others (be they personal or professional encounters). Please feel free to use the material as needed, but give credit accordingly. Who knows when or where these works might turn out. Plagiarism is a true crime. Also feel free to let me know what you think and how I am doing. Thanks. Full of Wisdom.

Life as a Rubik’s Cube

This blog post was inspired by talking to a friend of mine.

Everyone knows what a Rubik's Cube is. You, know the puzzle that you have to try to solve by getting all the colors on the same side. Some people have dedicated their lives to solving them. Others have become professional cubists. Still others spend years just trying to solve one side (like me). But the interesting thing is that the Cube is an allegory for life.

In talking to one of my friends, who claims she knows how to solve the cube, she explained that in order to tackle the cube, you have to tackle each individual side, and not the puzzle as a whole. Once, you complete the one side, then move on to the next, and so forth. Morevover, each individual side is solved by solving each individual column. Bottom line, Rubik's Cube is a puzzle that is solved by a series of algorithms and statistical probability.

But, I began to think, how true to life the Cube is as well. Life in general has different stages, representative of the sides of the cube. One cannot move on to the next stage of life (next side of the cube), without completing the current stage. Like life, the cube can be viewed from many different angles and each and everytime, especially when a different move or course of action is taken, it will look differently than before. Like the cubist who is trying to solve the cube is constantly evaluating and re-evaluating the next move, so too in life, we are constantly making decisions and choices that impact that stage of life we are currently living.

As in life, the each individial square in the cube represents our own challenges and obstacles. Make the wrong move, and the whole puzzle can become undone (albeit, it can be corrected). Make the right one and the puzzle becomes easier to complete.

The movie, The Pursuit of Happyness, uses the Rubik's Cube as a metaphor to life as well. When Will Smith's character solves the cube, he not only impresses his future employer into giving him the job that transformed his life, but also overcame an obstacle thought to be impossible. However, with a little determination and perseverace, he overcame doubt, struggle and increased his self-worth. So too must we over come life's Rubik's cube, and persevere over all those obstacles in our lives that are thought to be impossible. From loss of a job, to heart-break, to loss of a family member, life continues forward, as so do we. What is important in this life, the life that we have, is that we overcome and persevere over the obstacles put forth in our paths so that we can shine and become the best people we can be. Like in the cube, there are moments that will thwart our forward progress, but we may be able to find another move, or take a step back so that we may then be able to move forward.

May we all continue Life's journey, life's puzzle, life's enigma, filled with blessings and the strength and inspiration to overcome the obstacles before us and solve this wonderful cube we call life.

Full of Wisdom

Disclaimer: These blogs are all original works are resulting from of inspiration, many years of study, contemplation and personal reflection, prayer, life experiences, and encounters with others (be they personal or professional encounters). Please feel free to use the material as needed, but give credit accordingly. Who knows when or where these works might turn out. Plagiarism is a true crime. Also feel free to let me know what you think and how I am doing. Thanks. Full of Wisdom.