Who was that Masked Man?

My husband and I recently attended a performance called “On the Air” that was a re-creation of a 1940s radio show. One of the men played the announcer, and the other man impersonated Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Red Skelton, and Jimmy Durante. Using minimal costuming-a particular style hat or jacket-combined with a well-known prop such as Bob Hope’s golf club or Jacky Benny’s violin, he transformed himself into each of these historic figures.

A little more obvious are the Marvel Comic superheroes who don masks to change their identity. (Perhaps an idea taken from The Lone Ranger?). Unassuming citizens by day, these champions of justice put on fancy, spandex outfits and face coverings to become crime-fighters by night.

The Bible is also littered with stories of people who, for one reason or another, pretended to be someone they weren’t:

• Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. (Joshua 8:15)
• So he {David} disguised his sanity before them, and acted insanely in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down into his beard. (I Samuel 21:13)
• But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had let down the ship's boat into the sea, on the pretense of intending to lay out anchors from the bow. (Acts 27:30)
• So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so that they could deliver Him to the rule and the authority of the governor. (Luke 20:20)

At one time or another, we have all feigned emotions or a persona. Maybe it was as simple as wearing a confidence we didn’t truly feel or acting polite to someone we don’t like. Perhaps we were grieving, but put on happy face, or were with a group of Christians who seemed to know everything or have it all together, so we acted the same way.
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In a society that prides itself on “having it all together,” dropping our guard (our masks) can be scary. We want to be liked and respected, and we’re often afraid of what will happen if we show our true selves. But as children of the King, we don’t have to live in fear, and when we are genuine with others, we can create a community of fellowship and support the world can’t offer.

“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart
and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” I Timothy 1:5 NASB

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Linda Shenton Matchett

With a BA in Psychology and Masters in Human Resource Management, Linda Matchett has had a wide and varied career as a crisis counselor, HR generalist, B&B owner and youth center director. She is currently the Front of House, Snackbar & Catering Manager at Brewster Academy. A journalist and blogger, she has written for numerous online and print publications. An author of Christian contemporary and historical fiction, Linda is also a a motivational speaker. Available topics include Life on the (WWII) Home Front, Wartime Baking, Women in the (WWII) Workforce, The Writer’s Life, God in the Workplace, The Proverbs 31 Gal: The Woman We Love to Hate, and Ruth: Lessons from a Foreigner. Linda is a member of First Baptist Church Wolfeboro where she sings in the choir and serves as Church Treasurer and a member of the Fellowship Team.