My home town of Ballymena in Northern Ireland has been featuring on the main news over the last couple of days. Unfortunately, it is for all the wrong reasons. There has been rioting and destruction of property and quite a few policemen have been injured. It is being blamed on racial attacks. Many of the rioters have been seen with their faces covered by masks so that they can’t be identified. I think it is a very sad situation but it also made me think about masks.
During Covid we wore masks to protect ourselves and others and I think that I can safely say that it was very unpleasant. I wore a mask one time for vanity’s sake as I had two teeth removed and my face was swollen. We can hide behind a mask but it doesn’t have to be a physical one. How often do we hide our real feelings behind a “mask?” We may smile but underneath we can be hurting or be experiencing a stressful time. These are the times when we need a friend who can see past the mask.
At the recent “Spirit Ignited Service” one of the hymns which we sang was, “What a friend we have in Jesus” and it is a great favourite of mine.
May we give thanks for our friend, Jesus, who is always with us, sees, understands and gives us strength to cope.