I've been doing some conversing with some good friends about relationships and how others can become mask-wearers real quick. As we were talking about that, the subject of invitation came up. Do you ever like to get invited to events, lunches, dinners, outings, etc? Why do we like that so much? Perhaps it's a need of love and belonging that Maslow talked about, or it could be the love and compassion that Jesus talked about, or both. All truth is God's truth. So in getting invited somewhere, we all of a sudden feel more loved, more like we belong. But it's a false-filling of a deeper need to have value. What happens when the lunch is over? Where do you go when the friends go home--or move a way? Quite simply, we either take the mask off or we put the mask back on. It depends on which mask you choose to wear.
We all have masks. Or you can call them "hats" if you like. We get into trouble when those masks lead us to insincere and even dishonest communication within our relationships. We play nice and friendly even though we just want to unload on the other person about our day. (One time, my wife even told me to put the mask back on! Love ya hon!) Doesn't somebody want to get above all the nice small talk!? How about sharing some real feelings, some real joys, some real pain, so we can see beneath the masks?
Our Creator, the God of Invitation, invites us in Isaiah 55 when he says, "Come, everyone who thirsts...Come buy wine and milk without price". The invitation there has no strings. It's not based on our ability, but solely on God's. The beggar takes the bread without question.
What if we related more within the body of Christ that way? To be people of invitation? Not inviting out of our plenty, but out of our shared poverty? We're all impoverished beings that need the filling of a God who can, and a God who will.
Here's this beggar's invitation to you. Come, drink the living water with me.
2 comments:
great entry --- that's where my heart is right now as well.... and this same lesson you are sharing is what He has been teaching me little by little.... and that is why I am doing more inviting -- literally & figurately!!
but it's going to be a long term/ never arrived process because we're trained to conversate/ relate one way by the world --- and then need to be retrained err brain-flushed so that we can be retrained by the Spirit & Word how to be authentic & conversate & relate & love the way God wants us too!!
I'm being active in my faith & what He is teaching me...As painful and awkward as it is some moments! I pray for others to continue to do the same!
Let's both keep our masks on at home. Ha ha.
Post a Comment