Facade

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.  2nd Corinthians 3:18

I have been thinking about the word facade a bit lately. It is not a bad word but it simply means the outward appearance or what we want others to see. It can mean the outward face of a building but it can also mean the appearance or illusion of something real or fake. I often think of the image we present to others that may or may not truly represent what is inside. A home can have a beautiful facade but it may hide the inside that is filled with mistrust, anger, and dysfunction. The family behind the facade may appear to the neighbors to be a loving family, but if the facade is peeled away the reality is totally different.  I have to constantly be on guard against building a false facade around my life. Does the image my players see on the outside represent what is actually in my heart? And most important, does the facade my family sees match what is in my heart? I don’t admit to much but the facade is probably better than the inside sometimes. We can probably all admit to the same, if we really think about it.

Sometimes our facade can be to protect a loved one who is having a difficult time. We can show a great amount of strength to a family member who is struggling with illness or worry although we may have the same fears. Our facade will give them the strength they need for a moment in time but after a while they have to see behind the walls. Husbands and dads are probably the most guilty of building an elaborate facade for their wives and children to see. We want our children to believe we can conquer any challenge and our wives to believe they can always depend on us. There is nothing wrong with that but we also have to let them see us when we are afraid, worried, angry, and maybe a little vulnerable. I guess my point is that we have to always make sure the inside matches the facade. Our outward appearance, attitude, and words will draw people to us but they have to see Jesus when they look beneath the facade. I prayed today and asked Him to fill me so deeply with His Son that even my elaborate facade cannot hide Him from the people I will see today.

Chad