01 Soundbites 01

29Apr09

I’ve noticed something lately, not a new something by any means, but something just kind of sunk in. I frequently hear things or read things that strike me. Maybe funny, maybe poignant…the point is that I often will catch even just one phrase of a song or read a quote and think, “Man. I totally get that.”

Just as often as that happens, I consider blogging about it. But usually I can’t harness enough reflection to justify one whole blog post for these little snippets of wisdom (or hilarity!). So I’m starting a new little…thing…here at Teasingly Diverse.

Once a week (or so, no promises that my blonde self will remember all the time) I will collect these enjoyable little thought morsels and package ‘em up all nice and pretty to share with you, dear readers. We’ll call them “Soundbites”.

Here is Volume 01, Episode 01!

Theme: we all wear masks

“I was in love with an idea; preoccupied with how a life should appear. Spending my time at the surface, repairing the holes in a shiny veneer.” - from “Just showed up for my own life”, Sara Groves

“Are we happy plastic people under shiny plastic steeples, with walls around our weakness and smiles to hide our pain? But if the invitation’s open to every heart that has been broken, maybe then we close the curtain on this stained glass masquerade.” – from “Stained Glass Masquerade”, Casting Crowns

And finally, a poem that meant a lot to my high school English teacher, who should probably get his own tribute post one of these days.

We Wear the Mask

WE wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be over-wise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;

But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask!

Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)

Filed under: High School, Poetry, Teachers, music, soundbites, volume 01   |  Leave a Comment