The Road to DeMaskUs

 Good morning!

"We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,

And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us, while

       We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries

To thee from tortured souls arise.

We sing, but oh the clay is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,

       We wear the mask!"

-Paul Laurence Dunbar

I've always loved this poem. I remember reading it for the first time in 10th grade and the assignment to go along with it. I don't know if I want to mention her name because she summoned me for tea one day to discuss how I was sabotaging her class. 

Right!? Little ol me??

Chile... anyway, we used the light from the projector to have the silhouette of our faces drawn out for us to cut out. Then we were supposed to write on one side what others saw when they looked at us and on the other side who we were really were in this world. (I think I may still have mine!)

One of thee most important assignment that I could have been apart of at the tender age of 15 or 16. I remember her telling me that I was, "full of moxie" after that assignment. (Typical English teacher nonsense. I didn't know what that word meant!) 

But once I looked it up, it was that moxie that I depended on when I found myself on the road to redemption and rediscovery.

One of thee most thrilling adventures and stories of transformation happened in the book of Acts, the 9th chapter verses 1-19, 22:6-21 and 26:12-18; the Apostle Paul's journey to Damascus.

Now, we know that I'm not the best when it comes to Bible stories, but I did study this one! I swear when I was a little girl I wanted to be a preacher, but life... 

Anyway, I have been reading these verses for that last two weeks and I've even Googled several study guides to make sure I understand what I THINK is happening. (I know, I should have called my Pastor for a better understanding!)

So, what I'm NOT going to do is tell you the entire story because I think that when the time presents itself to you like it's done for me, then you'll find yourself in the books of Acts.

But until then, why "The Road to DeMaskUs,"  as a title?

Well, because you have to surrender in order to change. And for thee longest I walked this Earth wearing a mask. In fact, that's one of the reasons I joined the Army.

I started my journey as broken and loss soul. Just traveling through life doing everything my mom told me to do and going to church because it looked good; I could quote the Bible and I could strut in a beautiful pair of pumps every Sunday and even brought friends along!

But I wasn't living right. Deep down inside, I was dying. I was rebelling against the will of God, I was using coping mechanisms that could have harmed me or worse.

I felt my mask slipping off a few times, so I decided to run and hide. (That's another post and another day!)

Only to find myself back where I started because in order to heal and find peace from those broken pieces, you have to get to the root of the problem and pluck it.

Let's dive into the book of Acts and see how Saul, a hate-filled man turned into a loved-filled apostle named Paul. 

He received letter from the high priest to arrest any followers of Jesus on his way to Damascus. Thus, his journey begins. 

Paul was on the road to Damascus when he was blinded by a light from Heaven and that's where Jesus called out to him. Jesus asked him why was he prosecuting him and then gave him instructions to go into Damascus. 

Isn't it amazing how God will show up and meet you where you are??

Paul was then escorted by the two men into Damascus to Judas on Straight Street; Paul is still blind. He hasn't eaten or drank anything for THREE days. But there was a disciple named, Ananias who received word from Jesus to go out and pick up a man who was blind.

Of course that man was Paul 

He was hesitant because he knew all about Paul's reputation. Has that ever happened to you? You're feeling something deep in your spirit that pulling you to do something, but you've heard of somebody's past. Or this person has done something to you personally?

I think I've just realized something. I was talking to my guy while we were watching a movie on Netflix about the story of Joseph. One thing I've come to realize is that God will put you in a position just to see how you'll respond. Like in, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" she was trying to drown the man in his own bathtub just because she could.

Choose the high road. If you ever get the opportunity to do somebody how they've done you, don't do it!

You know why? Because when Ananias followed the instructions of Jesus Christ, he changed this man forever!

Ananias laid his hands on Paul, telling him Jesus had sent him to restore his sight and that Paul might be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Something like scales fell from Paul's eyes, and he could see again. He was baptized into the Christian faith. 

After his conversion, Saul changed his name to Paul.

This is the same Paul who wrote Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." which he revealed was his secret for enduring a life of hardships. Paul also wrote 2 Timothy why don't you look into that one, too, especially 2 Timothy 4:7&8.

One of the themes I seem to write it about is work! (Which is ironic because I'm quite lazy.) I always seem to have a Call-to-Action thing going on, don't I?

It's because one thing I know for sure is that you can't get anywhere in life without sacrifice and hard work; moxie, if you will! 

You can be born rich. You can even inherit a business, but it won't grow or be sustained without hard work and innovations. 

So, I'm challenging you to take off that mask! (Not the one around your mouth, though!) Live in YOUR truth! You are free to live the life of your dreams and all it requires is effort and a little bit of faith.

Pressure transforms coal into diamonds. 

Smashed grapes make wine.

I could keep going, but I can't think of anymore right now! But you get the idea; what may look like a terrible ending could very well be a beautiful beginning.

Surrender to God's will for your life. Cleanse your eyes so that you can see the wonders of this life and His amazing works because His grace is sufficient. 

This is 2021 and I have high expectations for this year because I pray with expectancy and I'm anxious for nothing!

I am praying for a transformation in your life with the understanding that you can do ALL things through Christ.

For, "I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor their children begging for bread." Psalm 37:25.

Without further adieu...

… It IS a pleasure to meet you!