REMOVING OUR MASKS

I happened to be watching television today and heard a sermon by Pastor John Hagee on one of the religious stations. I was moved almost to tears while watching this and thought I would blog something about what he talked about. He basically was talking about the seven steps to happiness and I don't know of anyone who is not interested in finding happiness or more happiness. Sometimes happiness escapes our best efforts to achieve it and sometimes there is no concrete reason as to why happiness is so fleeting and seldom achieved. He put into words what he believed to be the cause of unhappiness. He said when you move out from under the guidance of the Almighty and move closer to sin then you will be indeed unhappy. He also said that not liking ourselves produces unhappiness, which in turn causes us to dislike those around us. which then creates unhappiness. I think we have all been so afflicted by self loathing and the inability to look at ourselves in the mirror. (Paraphrased from Pastor Hagee) We are racked with fear, self hate and panic that if anyone knew the true person behind the mask: the one who on the outside is laughing, but on the inside is crying, and who on the outside is happy, but very sad on the inside, who is well put together and confident, but on the inside is so moved by confusion that we push ourselves into a corner and cower at the thought of removing ourselves from that corner we have painted ourselves into. Who is pained by the thought of not being loved if we were really to be ourselves. But how do we better understand what God wants of us, and then how do we behave in that manner? Pastor Hagee mentioned the Beatitudes, of which had long escaped my mind throughout the years. I learned them in catholic school as a youngster, but how quickly we forget these things when so much is going on around us and in us. I will now tell you the beatitudes:

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness; sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one lot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven, but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:3-19.

This is food for thought. We may hide ourselves from the world and put on a face that is pleasing to others, but deep down inside we cower of the thought of ourselves. In this season of Christmas I would hope that myself and everyone reading this passage could peel away the false layers of who we really are and show this person to the world. I believe it is better to show your true self and not be accepted, than to alter yourself and be falsely accepted by those who do not mean anything to us.