One of my favourite shows is  ‘The Masked Singer’.  Watching  bright, shiny, colourfully creative performances from Bush, Dressed Crab, Bear, Kingfisher, Pegasus, Pufferfish, Snail, Spaghetti Bolognese, Tattoo, Teeth, Toad-in-the- Hole and Wolf brings moments of joy and laughter in the midst of dark, cold Saturday evenings.

Trying to guess the identities of the characters from the clues is fun. Cheering people on as they perform with such confidence and pizzazz, regardless of their skill level, feels good. Their courage is inspiring and  brings out the best in the audience and judges  who applaud, praise, encourage and affirm.

I want to follow their example and find ways that I can bring joy and laughter to people in the midst of the harsh realities of life. 

I want to notice where people try something new,  practice skills, take on different roles and responsibilities, and I want to encourage,  support and cheer them on. 

I want to find the courage to keep trying new things, step out of my comfort zone and not worry about what other people think.

I want to be consistent and real and give people enough clues to work out who I really am, even the bits of me I’m not so keen on.  I want to remove the masks I wear, and not hide or disguise myself but become more fully myself.

For each and every person is fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God. We are known, loved and accepted as we are. God’s Spirit is at work within us transforming us into God’s likeness and helping us become the people we were created to be. And I want to co-operate more fully with God’s work in me and to encourage others to be open to the working of God’s Spirit within them.

It is my prayer that we will seek to grow into the person we were created to be with confidence. Having the courage to remove the masks we wear, to stop trying to disguise who we really are and allow others to see us as we really are. Being bold in trying new things, stepping out of our comfort zone and growing as people.

Encouraging, supporting and cheering one another on. Journeying together, growing in our discipleship and allowing God’s Spirit to transform our lives as we encounter Christ and our relationship with him  deepens and influences every aspect of our being.

The Venerable Nicky Fenton
Archdeacon of Derbyshire Peak and Dales