ayoamadu

Today I want to share a moment that felt lighthearted at first, but left me with a question I couldn’t shake.

I dressed up as Santa at my church, and the moment “Santa” entered the room, everything changed. The atmosphere lit up. Children began shouting, “Santa! Santa!” They rushed toward me, reaching out for hugs, eager just to touch me. Some leaned in and whispered, “I love you, Santa.” Even parents; grown, knowing adults; pulled out their phones, recording videos, snapping selfies, wanting to capture the moment.

As I stood there, watching it all unfold with quiet amazement, a question surfaced in my mind: What stories were told to make this possible?
What narratives were planted so deeply that the appearance of a symbol could evoke such joy, trust, and affection?

Then another thought followed—one that unsettled me.

Every one of those children knows me personally. They’ve seen me without the costume. They know my voice, my face, my ordinary presence. And yet, I couldn’t help but wonder: If I took off the Santa mask in that moment, would the excitement remain?
I doubt it.

That realization led me to a deeper question: Are people attracted to the mask, or to the person?

How often do we respond not to who someone truly is, but to what they represent? A title. A platform. A uniform. An image. A carefully told story.

And extending that thought even further:
How many people follow you for who you are, and how many follow you for what you symbolize?
Would the crowd remain if the mask came off?
Would the affection persist if the role disappeared?

Perhaps the most sobering truth is this: stories don’t just shape childhood wonder, they shape adult loyalty, belief, fear, and devotion. Long after we outgrow Santa, we still live by narratives handed to us, often without question.

Today reminded me that masks can attract crowds, but only truth sustains connection.

And it left me asking not just about others, but about myself:
Who am I when the costume is gone? And what am I inviting people to love—my image, or my essence?