Halloween has always been one of my favorite times of the year. The beautiful colors of the trees, the soft cool winds …
It’s also the time of year when you get to dress up like something or someone else. 
As a young girl, it was great to pretend I was someone else for so many reasons. I usually made my own costume out of whatever I had, so I had to be creative. I remember being a witch a couple of times, then I think I was a rock star one year. I can’t remember all of my costumes, but I realized something as I thought about this. As children, we tend to pick costumes that are an aspect of our “fantasy selves”. It’s our chance to put on a mask or costume and pretend we’re something that we’re not … or maybe something that we wish we were … or maybe some part of ourselves that we hide from the rest of the world.
That made me start thinking about how so many people wear masks every single day, afraid to show who they really are. I’ve met countless people over the years that do this without even realizing it. They might hide some of their intelligence so as not to offend those around them. They might pretend to be happy with a person or situation just to avoid rocking the boat. They might be afraid to speak up when they know something is very wrong.
Of course, I’m not suggesting that we should all go around telling everyone exactly what we think of them, but maybe at least some of us could benefit from speaking up a little more or trying on our own skin once in a while. Have you ever considered that maybe the part of yourself that your hiding could be a part of yourself that God gave you as a gift to actually use? For example, I know a few people that are far more qualified for their boss’s job than the boss his/herself. Maybe the boss just wasn’t qualified from the beginning, but maybe the employee has a higher level of education. Sometimes I wonder if even McDonald’s is going to start “preferring” a college degree. I know it’s not always easy to show people who you really are … to reveal those hidden talents. Believe me, I know what it’s like to tell your family and friends that you believe God gave you a gift to help people and then have them not appreciate what that gift is. My “gift” is a little different than say being a great chef, but the idea is the same. By the way, I’m not a great chef by an stretch of the imagination … at least I don’t burn cookies, though – usually. 
So, my question to is this … What mask will you wear this Halloween? Will you try on your own skin for a change, or will you try on someone else for a while. This could also be a great opportunity to “walk in someone else’s shoes”, too. Has it been a long time since you’ve worn a costume for Halloween? Maybe it’s time for you to have some fun … live a little. Come on – join the celebration for once! What mask will you wear?
Halloween Blessings! ~ Sheri
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