Shed Your Roles
Today, I’m woken early by a bright-eyed, 4-year-old, rough and tumble… Spiderman.
Being far from a rare occurrence… knowing my son will soon grow up, his ‘Spiderman’ slaps, punches, and belly-blows at 6:45 in the morning are usually welcomed with an instant transformation of my own.
As I become Doc-Ock, we roll and tickle and pounce… as my wife moans, “It’s too early…”
Right about the time I have Spiderman pinned and ready for my ‘Tickle claws’… his partner super-hero (his brother) jumps on my back or Drop-kicks my chest as they both conquer this super-villain to save the world.
After the dust settles and both I and my wife’s blood-shot eyes regain focus, the fun doesn’t stop.
See, my 4-year-old son has several Spiderman costumes. One for Halloween and the rest for whenever. Uh-hu, throughout the day the costume comes on and off, but his super-role as spiderman continues.
Adult ‘Roles’… Are They Clogging The Flow Of Life?
It’s cute to watch kids pretend. They’re so innocent and regardless of what role they’re in… they’re truly IN THE MOMENT more than us adults which is why I think they ooze joy where ever they tiptoe, sneak, crawl, or snuggle.
As adults, did you know most of us still play roles? As innocent as these roles may seem, our ‘roles’ can be much more distracting and ultimately trapping than some ever notice them to be.
Roles as adults can come in many shapes and sizes. But one thing all roles have in common is that they’re attached to the EGO. And ego only survives with our concept of time.
In short, ego has a false purpose of perpetuating the past or striving for some result in the future. Ego cannot exist in the NOW.
Ask someone who they are and don’t be surprised to hear an array of answers stemming from their occupation, their race, religion, hobbies… even disabilities, tough breaks, and victimhood. In each scenario, their false identity is based on the past or some ideal prize in the future.
Aside from being connected to a false sense of past or future while ignoring the present, roles come in two forms.
One, something that a person can be “proud” of and identify wholly with… in essence, something they are better at which implies that someone else is in one form or another less.
Two, something that the person identifies with that makes them the victim. In short, others are “bad” or “guilty” for putting them in the place they’re in.
Both one and two, although seemingly polar opposites have the same use. They’re both wrapped up in ego and deceitfully makes them right or better… and others wrong or less.
It’s all falsehood.
Suffering For A Lie…
But even more detrimental than clouding the truth… these false roles of attachment cause some form of suffering for the individual until the ego is diminished and the true self can begin to shine through the lies.
Think about a newborn baby. They’re truly happy about everything. Even when they’re sad, it doesn’t last and they hold no grudges. Do they have to “try” to forgive? Do they have to put forth an effort to forget?
They have no clue what grudges are. Being “better” doesn’t exist in their world. Being the victim holds no meaning… They just ARE. They have no roles.
Pointing to a New Direction
Can we as adults ever reach that same joyful state?
I don’t have a step-by-step, over-the-shoulder answer for you. But I can point you in a certain direction.
If the most joyful beings on earth, babies, don’t have any roles or identity attached to them… can we shed our own roles?
And if we could, would we experience more joy ourselves? Can we become joy or love itself?
Here, let me explain. If someone asks you who you really are, what would you say now?
You’re not your occupation, you’re not your race. You’re not a catholic, baptist, or protestant. You’re not a teacher, traveler, coach, public speaker, artist, singer…
You’re not a sufferer of oppression, you’re not a victim of corporate exploitation, you’re not a disease bearer.
Although you may have experience in some of these spaces and those experiences could have caused damage or helped humanity, those events or experiences are not truly who you are.
You’re not your name or any other limited sound that our mouths produce. You’re not even your skin and bones.
What you are doesn’t require an answer, does it.
Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10
What you are IS the same stuff that makes up every life form in our universe. And no language or scientific formula can describe what that is. It just IS.
If none of this makes sense to you, start here. I’ve pointed you in a new direction.
Find out if you’ve been playing roles all your life. Uncover what’s always been there… who you really are… and then, finally, life will merge with you. Joy will shine through.
