AS A KID, I SELDOM dressed up for Halloween. I did, however, wear a costume every day of my life, which always included a mask.
Dead people have to wear costumes. Otherwise, we would be seen for who we really are—and then we’d die all over again.
This is why we like solitary confinement. It is in that place where we can be all by ourselves alone and shed our death clothes.
And be who we really are.
Solitary confinement is a glorious place where we can be safe from others; especially the bad guys who might want to harm us. It is also a good place to keep us safe from ourselves when we get the itch for something different.
Or better.
The best thing about the solitary confinement I’m speaking about is that you can move the walls as necessary to accommodate your life. As you take on more roles to play outside in the real world, you can enlarge the closet so it can hold all your newest costumes, masks and hats. You can build a garage to hold all your toys and even add rooms for your children and guests.
And don’t forget the kitchen, pantry and medicine cabinet. When you don’t have anyone to tell you what and how much you can eat or drink or pop or smoke or snort, you’ll want to always have plenty of room for the stuff that takes the edge off a tough day. Out there.
But, what you can never do is allow anyone into your special place where you are completely naked.
Oh, it will happen from time to time that you get really close to someone and you want to show them the real you. And if you’re not thinking clearly, maybe from the endorphins or a lack of rest, you sometimes show them a glimpse. And if they don’t run in the other direction or kill you with their condemnation, you hope you have made a connection and can therefore take off another piece of clothing.
But, if they embarrass, humiliate or otherwise hurt your feelings or rob you of something dear, you will remember what “The Gospel According to You” has taught you before:
You do not matter.
You are stupid.
You are a fraud.
You do not need anyone.
The only way to be loved is to hide your real self.
There is only one problem with solitary confinement. It has a limited supply of oxygen. I cannot tell you how much oxygen yours has but I learned the hard way that there is not an endless supply of air. What I can tell you are some warning signs that you’re getting close to the end.
1. Doing the same things over and over again and not getting the desired result.
2. Feeling like your life is meaningless.
3. Being unable to quench the desire to break free from certain chains.
4. Realizing you cannot find the key to free you from the shackles.
5. You have traded today for someday.
6. You see yourself like a hamster in a cage running your legs off and getting nowhere.
7. You no longer possess people, places and things, but they possess you.
8. You go to bed happy, satisfied or numb and wake up in terror.
9. You cannot feel a full measure of love, respect, significance or security.
10.You know the hidden you is killing the real you.
If you suffer any of these symptoms, take a hard and courageous look at “The Gospel According to You”. And then tell someone you trust what you really believe, preferably one who isn’t living most of his or her life in solitary confinement. It’s the first step toward the air hose.
Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16 (NIV)
Psalms 33:18-19, Psalms 56:13, Proverbs 8:35-36, Proverbs 13:14, Romans 8:6
As always, it is my intent and hope that my words may encourage you wherever you are in your journey.
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If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.--Jesus (Mark 4:23)
