Get a piece of paper or oak tag and cut out a mask shape.  On one side, write or draw characteristics of how you want people to perceive you.  Now on the other side, write down characteristics of who you really are, and some things you aspects about your life that you don't want other people to know.

   How are you feeling right about now?  Self-conscious?  When I did this activity, I wouldn't show anyone either side of my mask.  I kept it hidden the entire time.  About a week after I brought my mask home, I ripped it up and threw it in the trash.  That's how ashamed I was of who I wanted to be and what I wasn't.

   Our assignment was obviously not to go home and throw away our masks.  I completely went against the point of the lesson.  We were actually supposed to find someone that week and talk about our masks.  We were supposed to be real with people.

   So many times we hide behind our masks, not letting anyone know the real us because we are afraid.  Why are we afraid of people seeing our faults?  I think our pride partially stands in the way.

   In The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren writes, 'Genuine friendship is built on disclosure. What may appear as audacity God views as authenticity.  God listens to the passionate words of his friends; he is bored with predictable, pious clich's.  To be God's friend, you must be honest with God, sharing your true feeling, not what you think you ought to feel or say.'

   Exactly.  I think honesty is key in friendships.  Being real with each other.  Some people think I'll be disappointed in them when they tell me the truth about themselves, but honestly, I just want to know who they really are.  I don't want them to deceive me and pretend to be something they're not.  I think that being real is effective too.  How can we reach someone who doesn't identify with us?

   I have a friend who is a leader in one of the Bible studies I go to.  More than anything, I appreciate her honesty.  She's not afraid to say that she's messed up in some aspect of her life.  In the New Century Version of the Bible, 1 John 1:7-8 says, 'If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. . .If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves.'

   Let's not fool ourselves.  Let go of your fears and be real with people so you can have real fellowship.  James 5:16 says, 'Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.'

   It's difficult to be open and honest, but it's necessary to be effective in your life and the lives of others.