face

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Why You Need To Be A Better Actor

We should all try to be a better actor when we are in public indoor spaces.

Why you need to be a better actor

The thing with wearing masks is it makes it really hard to see the expression on people’s faces. You can’t tell how they are reacting to what is being said.

Take it from me. For the last several months I’ve been preaching to people wearing face masks. That was an upgrade because, for several months before that, I preached to a room without any people in the seats. … Actually, I had three other people present who were working the sound board and camera and streaming software.

The thing about preaching to people wearing masks is that you can’t tell how engaged they are with what you are saying. Even speaking one on one with people, it is not easy to tell what’s going on behind the mask. 

I was in a grocery store on vacation this summer, in line to pay for my items. The woman ahead of me, who was just about finished her purchase, was trying to flag down her husband at the back of the store.

She waved to him but he didn’t see her.

So I yelled out, “Hey, dude!”, and waved to him to look our way. 

He didn’t notice me either, so I just looked back at the woman. She looked back at me. I had no idea what she was thinking.

After a brief pause, she said, “I’m laughing behind this mask.”

… I can’t help but think of teachers going back to school. Sure, they will have smaller classrooms which will make it easier to an extent. But if the kids are wearing masks, good luck on knowing if those kids are making faces or turning up their noses at something the teacher said. 

The other day I saw a woman wearing a clear plastic mask with a mini shield attached. At least you could see her face though, to be honest, the shield looked a little funny.

Masks block our facial expressions and they say that facial expression and body language makes up about 55% of communication. 

That’s why we need to be good actors when we wear our masks. A good actor accentuates their expressions – especially stage actors. They need to make sure the people sitting in the back row can see their expression and their body language. 

The other day I was talking with someone after church and he said something that I thought was amusing. 

I would normally have just smiled and nodded. But not with my mask on. I chuckled out loud, my head bobbed up and down, my shoulders even shimmied a bit. 

He go the idea that I was amused by what he said. 

It takes a lot more work to communicate this way, but this is what we need to do. We need to overreact just so the person who’s communicating with us knows we are reacting at least a little to what’s being said. 

So everyone get out there and be a better actor … for the sake of the person you are talking to.

Here’s the thing: Sometimes we might think that if we are kind, caring and generous to the people around us, they will know that it is because we have experienced Christ’s love and are now living out that love. But the truth is that many people who don’t know Christ will not get that connection. It’s like we are communicating with masks on. At some point we need to actually tell them about Christ’s love.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: How have you found communicating while wearing a mask? Leave your comments and question below.

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My Face Isn’t All That Unique

I’m thinking there are only so many faces in the world … the rest are just variations of the same few faces.

Bobby Orr

I’ve come to this conclusion because I was recently mistaken for someone I am in no way related to.

I was walking up to the pro shop at a golf course I was about to play, when I noticed a group of four senior gentlemen standing around their golf carts.  

I noticed them because they were looking at me. In fact, it was more than just looking at me – they were staring at me … you know, with their mouths slightly open in that, “Is this who we think it is?” kind of stare.

I continued on like I didn’t notice them gawking at me and went into the clubhouse. 

I registered for my game and was just about to walk out the door when these four men came clambering in, almost trying to squeeze through the door at the same time. 

The first one blurted out, “Are you related to Bobby Orr?” 

If you know anything about hockey – if you’re a Canadian – you know who Bobby Orr is: one, if not THE greatest NHL defenseman of all time.

I immediately put their question to rest. “No”, I said, and kept moving. 

I could tell from how they were acting that they really thought I was Bobby Orr for a minute.

That was the first time anyone has thought my face and Orr’s face looked similar. 

Once someone thought I looked like Terry Fox, but that was back in the 70’s when I had long, curly hair. I had immediately lifted my leg back at the knee when they said it so I could be more convincing. 

 But that was from a distance; this was up close.  

I’ve never even met Bobby Orr – though I have a friend who has posted a picture  on his facebook page of him and his wife with Bobby.

My brother has met Bobby Orr. Years ago Orr shot a Planters Peanuts commercial for Hockey Night in Canada at the rink he was an assistant manager at.

Oh, and when I was young – about 9 or 10 – a guy took me to an OHA Oshawa Generals hockey game. He also gave me a black and white photo of Bobby who was about 17 at the time.  

I remember that when the guy handed me the photo he said, “Hang on to that. This kid is going to be a star.” 

I lost the photo a few years later. 

I never met Bobby Orr, but at least my sister-in-law got me his autograph. 

I did build a couple of cottages around Parry Sound one summer during my college days. I saw the larger than life image of Bobby on the “Welcome to Parry Sound; Home of Bobby Orr” sign coming into the city. 

Maybe I should practice Bobby’s signature … just in case … now that I’m looking more and more like a legend.

Here’s the thing: We can mistake something for the real thing. But when we mistake our good fortune or success in life for God’s blessing, we better take a second look. That good life you are experiencing may only be for this life. God’s real blessing is attached to a relationship with his Son and a future eternity that will last far longer that any good fortune we experience now. 

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What in your life do you need to take a second look at? Leave your comments and questions below.

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How Real Change Happens From Within

I made a big change in my appearance the other day. I didn’t get a new suit or comb my hair differently … I just shaved my whole face.

It’s the first time I’ve done that in almost thirty years. Since 1984 I’ve had a moustache and for the last 15 years I’ve had a goatee. But on December 1st, I shaved it all off!

ps - just mouth

I had to take a second and third look at myself in the mirror to make sure it was really me staring back. It was hard not to smile and repeat the words, “Oh boy” as in, “Oh boy, what have I done?!”. But I’m going to give it a little time to get used to it.

One thing I’m not getting used to is shaving. It’s not that there is more real estate to take care of now, we’re only talking about a face. But, I have scars on my face from hockey that have to be considered now.

I’ve had 5 stitches beside my right eye and 3 stitches on my right eyelid. Then I had 3 stitches on the left corner of my mouth from a fight with Neil Lumsden, who was just inducted into the CFL Football Hall of Fame. Besides those, I had 4 stitches under my bottom lip and 3 stitches on the left corner of my chin.

The last three scars come into play when I shave. I haven’t had to bother with them for so long, but now I have to navigate around my face like it’s a land mine to keep me from nicking myself with the razor.

Though my face doesn’t look like Gerry Cheevers’ goalie mask, I do have a few marks that ensure I stay attentive when I have a sharp instrument in hand near my melon.

It all changes how I look, and it’s taking some getting used to it. I might grow it all back, but I’m going to wait and give it some time to sink in.

I’m finding I have to keep telling myself that I look different but I’m the same guy.

… And others have weighed in on the change whether they know it or not. Some people have said nothing which means they probably don’t like it. I’ve had lots of people acknowledge that I’ve shaved, but no comment on what they think of it. That’s probably a bad sign too.

One person came out and just said he didn’t like it. My daughter saw a picture and said “Wow! He looks so different, yet the same.”  And my son said, “That’s going to take some serious getting used to.”

Both Lily and I aren’t sure what to think. I think I’m looking at my brother when I look in the mirror and I start to laugh. I’m not sure what I’ll do.

Here’s the thing: Shaving my face hasn’t changed who I am one bit. I’m still the same guy on the inside. But making a change on your inside will result in outward change.

A Christian is first changed on the inside and then that change is made visible in his or hers appearance through actions, attitudes and words. So when we look in the mirror, we should ask ourselves, “Is my outside appearance matching my inside appearance?”

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What outward change have you made that elicited lots of attention? Leave your comment below.