An unveiling can be quite a surprise. Especially if what’s underneath the cover doesn’t match expectations.
WeathersItalians were reminded of that harsh reality when the statue of Pope John Paul II was unveiled on May 18, the date that commemorated his 91st birthday. The artwork depicts the Pope with his arms outstretched and cloak open, which sculptor Oliviero Rainaldi said portrayed his desire to “embrace the faithful.”
But the “faithful” weren’t pleased. Expecting to see a respectful depiction of the late pontiff, onlookers were shocked when the covering fell away. The Vatican newspaper vilified the 16-foot-tall representation as “ugly.” Worse, many Italians felt the sculpture more closely resembled someone else who was, to put it mildly, far less appealing – dictator Benito Mussolini. Observing the face of the statue, bystander Antonio Lamonica wondered, “How could they have given such a kind pope the head of a Fascist?” His wife muttered, “It’s ugly. Really ugly.”
I can sympathize. Can’t you? To have your expectations cruelly dashed. But that’s just a statue. What if it’s a person you respected? You thought you knew someone. You had expectations that their character would match their presentation. And then it happened. The cover was removed, the real person was revealed, and it left you muttering. What was underneath was not at all what you expected. “Ugly. Really ugly.”
Celebrity versions are legion. Tiger Woods. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ted Haggard. Etc., etc. But at those we shake our heads and move on. No personal impact. But what if it is closer to home? Say, a parent?
The Bible admonishes believers to actively pursue integrity (Proverbs 4:20-27). This could not be more crucial for fathers. As men of God and leaders of our families, we are called to the simple, insistent practice of integrity and personal righteousness. And our kids should be able to see how our faith holds up in real life (1 Thessalonians 2:10).
Don’t misunderstand. God is not calling us to be flawless. Just faithful. The same guy on the inside that they see on the outside.
So Dad, consider this. If the veil was pulled away today, if your kids saw the real you, would they cheer? Or shake their heads in disappointed shock? The choice is yours.