Personal Connection # 1 Continued

This is a song I found a little while ago and I really like the lyrics. It is by one of my favourite Christian bands and it relates to what I was talking about in my post Personal Connection # 1. I know it's a different kind of deception than that which is featured in Macbeth, but it is deception nonetheless. This song is very personal for me and I think that its lyrics accurately reflect the way this theme impacts my life.

If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too
So with a painted grin, I play the part again
So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Honestly, I think a big part of deception is being able to deceive oneself. If you can deceive yourself as well as the people the deception was originally aimed at, it is so much easier to keep up the story. Really, the analogy in this song of playing a part in a show or a play speaks to how far we go with our deception. We are not only deceiving people with the things we say, but also with the way we appear. Our appearances fool people. We look happy, so we must be happy. We are laughing, so everything must be okay. Problem: it's false transference. It's a well learned actor/actress.

The performance is convincing
And we know every line by heart
Only when no one is watching
Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free
If I dared to let you see
The truth behind the person
That you imagine me to be

I often wonder why we feel that we have to deceive the people in our lives. If they really care about us, will the truth make them run away from us? I don't think so. I certainly hope not. So, what then, is the point of deception? Why do we feel the need to deceive others? And why in the world is it so easy to get into?

Song: Stained Glass Masquerade

Artist: Casting Crowns