Isn’t it strange to be out somewhere and see people wearing masks? Who would have thought, even six months ago, that this would even be a possibility? Well today I kind of liked it because I got carded buying wine – and I’m pretty sure that the mask contributed to that. In this case, the mask was hiding lines and wrinkles. This got me thinking about masks and how we frequently wear imaginary masks to hide our imperfections and keep others from seeing who we truly are. We paint pictures of wonderful, carefree, successful lives on social media. We show our fabulous vacations, our perfect kids, our successes but most of us don’t share our struggles and difficulties. Except me that is, who apparently is called to be a “hot mess” on social media. In our personal and work lives, we are afraid to let people in and shield ourselves from being vulnerable.
In her book, Daring Greatly, researcher Brené Brown defines vulnerability as “uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure.” She argues that vulnerability is at the center of meaningful human experience and leads to courage, compassion and connection. However, our human nature causes us to resist vulnerability. We’d rather hide our weaknesses or pretend they are not there. It’s safer and we risk facing rejection or being judged by others if we make ourselves vulnerable.
If we are aren’t willing to be vulnerable, our relationships will be shallow and superficial. We need to be willing to openly acknowledge our struggles and imperfections, ask for help when we are struggling, and be our authentic selves. If we model these behaviors, others will follow, and we will develop and maintain deeper, more trusting relationships.
Young children are vulnerable – trusting, open and accepting. Scripture tells us to become like children in our relationship with God and in our relationships with one another. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t use some common sense, but I believe that it does mean that He wants us to be vulnerable with those we discern to be trustworthy.
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a little child to him, and place the child among them. And he said, ‘Truly I tell you , unless you change and become more like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’” Matthew 18:1-3
“But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’” Luke 18:16
Christ’s vulnerability has changed everything. He knows our weaknesses well, for he too faced temptation, suffering and sin – overcoming them for us on the cross. We have a Savior who has given us eternal life. Because he has been in our shoes as a human, he sympathizes with our weaknesses. (Hebrews 4:15) Because of this, we have the freedom in Christ to admit and confront our weaknesses knowing that vulnerability neither validates nor breaks us.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
We are all in the middle of something in our lives. We weren’t made to suffer through our journey alone. Let’s be willing to be vulnerable and help and encourage each other. It is only when we are at our most vulnerable that we can experience the connection with God and others that we were designed for.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
Take off your masks and embrace the power of vulnerability (but still wear them for safety during the pandemic).
