I’m honored today to contribute to the Never Beyond Series for the People of the Second Chance. This weeks image is Darth Vader. While not a real person, I think we can all identify with ol’ Darth at some level. I say that because we all have masks. I might even go so far as to say that we especially have them on Sunday morning. Just like Vader, behind the mask is pain, hurt, anger, bitterness, rejection, hatred and scars we don’t want others to see.
Behind the mask we feel safe. We can do unspeakable damage to the emotions, feelings and well-being of others and feel like “The Mask” allows us to do so. Behind the mask we can be the athlete we never were, the success that never happened, the husband we’re not at home and, in the case of Darth, a Father ashamed of his past.
I want to challenge each of you to see behind the mask today. Get past the rough exterior to find the heart longing to be forgiven. Look past the metal and see the soul of the prisoner wishing to be set free. See through the light saber defenses and black cape to see the scars that shaped the person.
Who would you give a second chance?
AARON CONRAD 