Scrolling through Instagram, I saw a meme that said, “You know what no one talks about enough? Masks. I wish I knew everyone’s opinion on them.” I chuckled at the relatability of it and began to scroll along, but then I stopped. Why is it so easy for everyone to talk about masks? 

When the riots and protests were in full swing during the aftermath of George Floyd’s death, I was feeling fired up to have conversations about racial injustices that continue to prevail within our society today. That very next weekend I attempted to start the conversation within my own circles – people that I am close to, people who look like me – white women. As soon as I crossed the bridge to start the conversation, the subject was changed. This happened 3 times in one weekend with three separate groups of people. 

But approach the subject of mask-wearing with anyone you see on the street, and you are sure to start a fire under a person. A conversation fueled by political opinions and armed with research from every expert you know and all of the ones you don’t. And I’ve certainly been guilty of this myself.

Why is it so easy for us to form an opinion about a piece of cloth on our face, but so difficult to have a meaningful conversation about a group of hurting people who have been systematically oppressed for centuries? Why can we so easily start a conversation with someone in the grocery store about how we feel about wearing a mask, but when we are with those we love and trust, the moment someone mentions racism or injustice or (heaven forbid) that black lives matter, we suddenly have a funny story to tell about what happened to us a work last week? 

Admittedly, I probably began each of the conversations about race with a little more passion and fervor than was comfortable. But I as I wondered to myself at the speed at which the subject of the conversation changed, I found myself dumbfounded that not even a group of loving, humble, authentic, women of God could handle having a conversation on the matter.

But why didn’t I press the conversation further? Why didn’t I ask a question to get people thinking? Why didn’t anyone respond with one, single word to what I said? 

It seems to me that the conversation about masks is just easier to have. It affects our immediate, daily lives. Many of us have to routinely make the choice of whether or not we are going to wear a mask in a space or not. For the most part, we can accept when someone chooses an option that is opposite of our own, so striking up a conversation about it, seems remarkably easy. Conversations about politics or racism or abortion or sexual identity or (get this!) the Gospel may not. 

There are countless examples of Jesus diving in to difficult conversations. John’s account of Nicodemus is one that came to mind as I was reflecting on this. Nicodemus was a pharisee who had a pretty powerful reputation and standing within his community. And yet, his curiosity about Jesus’s teaching and miracles was growing. Instead of having a conversation with Jesus during the day when people were milling about their daily lives offering a higher risk of him being spotted, he visited Jesus at night as people were settling in with their families and closing their shades. 

Did Jesus turn him away and say, “You Coward! You couldn’t even drum up the courage to face me during the day!”? No. With love, Jesus welcomed Nicodemus and the questions he brought and yet did not shy away from the hard truths that came with the answers. 

I don’t believe by the life Jesus lived, that he meant for us to be comfortable anywhere but in His love alone. The humbleness of Jesus to welcome Nicodemus in to the difficult conversations with such grace is almost unimaginable in our current self-focused, politically charged culture today. But I believe if we approach each conversation with a little of Nicodemus and a whole lot of Jesus, we can begin to make a meaningful, lasting impact on the people around us. And it starts with the people we love and trust the most.

May we have the courage of Nicodemus to come to one other to ask hard questions, and have the difficult conversations, even if it has to be in the middle of the night. May we have the grace and humility of Jesus to welcome one another’s questions and perspectives, even if we don’t quite see where they’re coming from. But may we stop hiding behind conversations that are seemingly easier to have. Because my prayer for myself, and for you, is that we may learn to challenge one another and grow together ever closer to our Creator and Savior that His glory may be known by all.