As a gift for my wife, I gave her a getaway trip to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago to see the “Christmas Around the World” display. It’s quite a display! More than three dozen trees are decorated according to a national theme. Below each tree, a placard identifies the country and describes some of that nation’s Christmas traditions. We spent the majority of New Year’s Eve day at the museum.
That evening we walked a few blocks from our hotel, located on the Chicago River, down Michigan Avenue to a restaurant for dinner. A gift card to the restaurant eased the sticker shock, thankfully. After dinner, we strolled across the street to the entrance of Millennium Park. The city had decorated a large tree with bright, colorful LED lights, and we were naturally drawn to the site.
Nearby sits one of the city’s iconic pieces of art, popularly referred to as “The Bean.” People come from all over the world to take a picture of themselves reflected in the The Bean, with the city’s skyscrapers reflecting in the background. I have a Facebook friend who, as a hobby, photographs people jumping in front of The Bean—she has quite a colorful collection!
There’s something striking about this highly polished metal “bean” at night. The reflection of the people fades in the darkness, but the lights of the city sparkle like diamonds resting on black velvet. The buildings bend and curve to the shape of The Bean in a wonderful distortion of the behemoth structures of stone and steel. We lingered, looking at the reflection, then at the actual cityscape. Moved to another spot and took in the changing Bean scene. Finally, the winter chill drove us away, back to the warmth of the hotel.
We arrived at the hotel along with a crowd of other guests, most spending the night, but some coming for the hotel party. Preparations for the festivities were underway all day—decorating with balloons, roping off select areas near the river-facing windows where those willing to drop a minimum of $800 for a party of 8 could raise their glasses and, through bleary eyes, watch the fireworks display on the river below. The energy, the loud chatter, and the high-volume party music inside the hotel had a similar effect on us as the cold temperatures outside—it drove us to find shelter!
We retreated to our room, changed into warmer clothes, and decided to head back out to Michigan Avenue north of the river—to the “Magnificent Mile”—and take in the lights. After all, it was only 10:00, a couple hours until the fireworks. Off we went, working our way back through the gathering merrymakers, out into the street. I must say, the white lights on the trees lining “the Mile” were quite beautiful. Passed by a couple street musicians, ambled north to the old Water Tower, and turned around.
On the way back, there on the west side of Michigan Avenue sits the imposing new Starbucks Reserve Roastery—four floors of all things coffee and more. I’ve read that people have stood in line outside for a loooong time to get into the place. In fact, as we approached the building, someone behind us remarked, “Look, there’s no line! Let’s go in!” Yes, let’s. After all, I’m a coffee lover. Initially, the place is quite impressive. Cool interior design, a curved escalator, lots of copper tubing, a wonderful aroma. But in the end, I wasn’t all that impressed. Over-priced and over-hyped. Not my cup of joe.
As we approached the bridge crossing the river by the Wrigley building, a large crowd had already assembled for the fireworks—still 40 minutes away. After fighting our way through, then back into the hotel mayhem, we found refuge again in our room for a while—until returning to the riverfront for the fireworks.
It was quite the show. The spectacle began at Navy Pier to the east. Then, at several of the bridges along the river, a synchronized firing of rockets filled the sky with brilliant color and booming explosions while Frank Sinatra sang “My Kind of Town” in the background. Happy New Year, indeed.
Again the retreat. The party was now in full swing. Many partygoers were clearly full, too—of intoxicating spirits. The laughter, the merry shouting over the loud, pulsating music, the sheer numbers of celebrants suggested all was well in the Windy City and with the world. After all, 2019 is behind us; a new year—a new decade—was before us!
The nice, quiet room afforded a good night’s sleep.
Then morning came. What of last night’s merrymaking?
After packing up and checking out, we made our way to the restaurant in the vast hotel atrium. Scores of people were about. Some in various stages of departure. Some simply sitting in chairs or couches scattered around, scrolling through their phones. Some at the restaurant. Interestingly, there wasn’t any laughter…or even smiles! What happened since last night?
Then, while waiting for our breakfast, CNN showed scenes of the mob heading for and attacking the US Embassy in Iraq. Threats were reported. Retaliation promised. And so on.
And I saw it. Angst. Fear. Headaches. Boredom. Sadness. The party was over. A stark contrast presented itself. Not just from New Year’s Eve to New Year’s Day, but from how my wife and I were feeling and approaching the day in contrast to most of what I observed around me. We were refreshed, rested, at peace. Around us, not so much.
Then I thought about the beautiful scenes from the previous night in light of what was right before us. While we were enjoying a nice dinner and stroll along Michigan Avenue, six people were shot in other parts of the city. Over the previous weekend, three people were killed and 21 others wounded in a spate of shootings. I also reflected on the number of police officers I saw in our short time outside. They were everywhere! And little wonder. In 2019, 516 homicides were reported; 2,293 people were shot and wounded. Already in this new year 59 people have been shot.
No, all is not well in the world; our masks cover only for so long. So this enchanting scene of twinkling lights and distorted skyscrapers reflecting off the iconic “Bean” masks an ugliness no one likes to see or admit.
And that’s just like us—human beings, that is. We do our best to cover the ugliness, presenting only a glossy image to others. We tend to hide it even from ourselves with mind-numbing intoxicants that allow us to escape what we don’t like about ourselves or our lives.
It doesn’t work, though. The One who sees us—sees all about us—has us pegged.
Some try to mask the depravity with religion. Jesus pulled off the mask when he remarked,
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.
Matthew 23:37
Others cover up with self-justification for everything they do, from excessive partying to sexual promiscuity, from obsessive play to compulsive workaholism. But God looks beneath the cover, discloses the truth, and issues a warning:
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Jeremiah 17:9-10
What, then, do we do with this propensity to cover up? Again, Jesus gives us the starting place. He told a story contrasting two men, one with a mask, the other without:
Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 18:10-14
Where to start? First, take off the mask!
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