without ink

Whew. Today has been a breath of fresh air. And I don’t mean just because it’s nice out. You know the type- your whole body screams for a return to the atmosphere after being submerged in water too long. Except I’m not trapped in depth. I’m suffocating from superficiality.

I remember when that song “Barbie Girl” came out. Maybe the reason it was so popular is because we can all relate to a world of make-believe…a sea of plastic. In fact, we become so accustomed to this world of imitation that after awhile we don’t even realize that we are the ones wearing the masks. We are fake, hiding, and yearning for something of depth while at the same time shrieking and shirking from the possibility of true substance. So, we deceive ourselves, believing that it is safer and easier to remain as actors and actresses.

Oh, the discomfort and discontent that is sure to be elicited from fellow plastic beings as I remove my mask and lay aside the things I hide behind. Exhausted of pretending, I dare to be real. Knowing that many will misunderstand and resist my attempts to persuade others to dispose of their own masks, my efforts will not be deterred. The liberation I have experienced demands compassion for those continuing to abide in fabrication.

To an avid scuba diver, merely skimming the surface as a snorkeler is smothering. Only when one dares to take a risk and dive in headfirst can he discover what he only dreamed of from the shore. No words or descriptions can suffice…only by means of removing the water-wings, the things that keep him safely on the surface, is he able to experience the colors that are more vivid, the view that is more breathtaking, and the life that is more abundant than he could ever hope. Or imagine.