expressions

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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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Our Expressions Don’t Lie

Our expressions reveal our emotions and, without a mirror in front of us to monitor our expressions, sometimes our emotions leak out for others to see.

Richard Sherman expressions.001Mind you, some people are better at keeping their expressions in check that others. We call those people “tough to read”; it’s difficult to know what they are feeling or thinking.

I’m not that particularly difficult to read apparently, at least according to my wife. I can sit down with a plate of food in front of me and within a millisecond she knows what I think of dinner.

I don’t have to poke the meat with my finger or even pick up a fork – the look on my face tells her everything (eww, it’s stew).

I would probably make a pretty lousy poker player; everyone would know if my hand was good or bad.

I’ve even seen professional poker players on TV hide their expressions with sunglasses or hats shielding their faces.

The other day watching the Super Bowl, there were some pretty good emotions. Camera men are particularly good at zeroing in on faces when something in the game goes bad or good.

Early into the second half, after Seattle had scored to take the lead for the first time in the game, the look on the Seahawks’ coach’s face was, “I think we have this game”. He looked pretty confident.

His face didn’t show the same easy smile later in the game, however, when in the last 3 minutes the momentum of the game was moving up and down like a roller coaster at Canada’s Wonderland.

When New England scored and there was still three minutes left in the game, the Patriots’ quarterback sat on the bench and couldn’t look up. There was too much on the line.

Seattle started moving the ball. Then a long pass, that at first looked incomplete, turned out to be a reception as the receiver bobbled the ball a few times and grabbed it while falling on his back on the 5 yard line.

Wow, the looks on both benches was telling. Only a minute to go in the game, Tom Brady (New England’s QB) had a look of, “No way! You’ve got to be joking!”

… One play later, the ball is on the one yard line. It is a guaranteed touchdown for Seattle. The game is over; there is no hope for New England. But Seattle decides to pass the ball and throws an interception.

The emotions go wild again. Brady is now jumping up and down on the sideline with his hands raised. The coach raises his arm in the air signalling victory.

Over on the Seattle sideline the emotions are prolific. One player will have his mug in the news for days as his facial expressions went from joy to sheer horror in a matter of seconds.

… The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.

Here’s the thing: As poor a job as we do hiding our emotions for others to see, it is impossible to hide our emotions from God. He sees everything; He knows our emotionally-charged roller coaster life. So instead of dropping the visor of your hat to cover your expressions when you pray, simply tell Him what you are feeling and thinking. He wants to hear, and He can help.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: When do you have a hard time keeping your expressions in check? Leave your comment blow.