One of my favorite places as a teenager was Mrs. Cherry’s Used Bookstore. I loved walking through the maze of shelves, mesmerized that Mrs. Cherry knew where every book was located. The smell of old books is tantalizing; and the feel of them in my grasp, like a dream. But the best feeling in the world happened when the story betwixt the pages matched the cover that heralded its name. Nothing was as disappointing as choosing what seemed like an amazing story, only to find that it was nothing like the cover advertised.

When I scanned the congregation Sunday, I couldn’t help but see the covers each person wore. Some wore their story across their face and I knew they were struggling or succeeding. Others had covers that didn’t match what I knew was true. Smiling faces while loved ones rested in hospice. Pleasant expressions though families were falling apart. Carefree movements in bodies loaded with pain. So many covers telling stories that weren’t true.

I think about our required reading in high school: The Scarlet Letter. If only we all had a tag hanging from our necks that revealed the true nature of the story underneath. Financial Hardship. Broken Home. Adultery. Illness. Pain. Unforgiveness. Fear. Failure. Alone.

If these tags hung freely maybe those prickly people wouldn’t seem so sharp or the emotional walls stand so high. Maybe we could share our tags and connect in ways that would make the story better. Holier. Healthier. Or maybe we could take the tag and carry it for a while; not carrying it as our own, but carrying it to the cross. Imagine what would happen if people knew the real story behind the cover.

What does your cover tell? What face are you putting on to mask the hardship underneath? Do others know the real story? Or if they picked up the book, would they be surprised at the contents?

We can’t always judge a book by its cover, but don’t we? We want the world to think we have it all figured out, and all put together.

It’s okay if the cover tells the story. Honestly, that makes for a better story.

Are you willing to change your cover to match the story that is hidden underneath?