Masks

"Adam and Eve were naked in the Garden of Eden but not embarrassed.  That doesn't mean they were physically naked.  It means they were emotionally naked, totally real and honest, yet they were not embarrassed because they felt accepted completely for who they were."  --Marianne Williamson, "A Return to Love"

It took a while to find a painting of Adam and Eve that was modest.  I'd wanted a Renaissance painting but they would have gotten an X-rating for my Blog!  Marianne Williamson's statement, above, declares that Adam's and Eve's nakedness was merely symbolic for their emotional nakedness.  I believe this could quite possibly be true, but that does not mean they did not become ashamed of their bodies as well.  Our physical bodies have become symbolic of our spiritual bodies.  When we're afraid, don't our bodies often perspire and we get a sick feeling in our stomach?  When we're sad, don't we feel overly tired and lacking in strength?  And when we're happy and excited don't our eyes twinkle and we feel a rush of energy?  Those things are all results of our spiritual condition since we are spiritual beings having a human experience.  

Williamson declares that our "special" relationship--marriage--will only succeed if it is a Holy relationship.    Too often two people come together for Ego's sake.  She writes, "In the special relationship, the ego guides our thinking and we meet in fear, mask to mask.  In the holy relationship, the Holy Spirit has changed our minds about the purpose of love and we meet heart to heart."  And we can only do this if we come out of hiding.  Instead we enter into pretend relationships because we fear if the object of our desire knew the truth about us, he/she wouldn't want us.  This holds true in the other direction as well.  We don't really want to know the truth about the other person either because we fear we might find something we don't like, and then where would we be?  Alone.  This is not a good reason to marry.  As Williamson says, "It is not love but exploitation."

She continues, "The ego seeks to use a relationship to fill our needs as we define them.  The Holy Spirit asks that the relationship be used by God to serve His purposes.  And His purpose is always that we might learn how to love others more purely.  We love purely when we release other people to be who they are.  The ego seeks intimacy through control and guilt.  The Holy Spirit seeks intimacy through acceptance and release."

Father, we are taught early on to put on masks if we are to fit in.  This begins with our families and extends into the various social groups we find ourselves in.  It is a very hard thing to avoid!  But by Your Grace You have provided a relationship where we can let down our guard--marriage.  May we give this relationship all the care and respect it is due.  

Link to scripture:  Hebrews 13:4

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