To thine own self be true!
 
Now, I will be really honest. This is the only line that I know from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and it’s only in preparing for this blog that I saw the rest of it! Ah shame!
 
The words of a father to a son before he leaves for France.
 
“This above all- to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
 
Now, I am also not a literature scholar, but I believe that at the heart of what Polonius is saying to his son is that honesty with others first begins with being honest with yourself, “to thine own self be true”.
This is at the heart of what we want to offer to you as a Catholic approach to Carnival. No matter what you choose to do for Carnival whether it’s to pack up and head off on a vacation, or to camp, or to the next fete, or to be on the road; the invitation from Christ is to act in truth.

Each one of us has to look into our hearts and be REALLY honest about who we are, and what God is asking of us. Some of us may be called to witness to God’s love by withdrawing from the Carnival activities completely; some of us may be called to go “squeeze out d pus” as Deacon Derek suggested, or some may be like me just cool to chill at home and it has nothing to do with a moral stance against Carnival.
The point is we are called to be true, true to what God is asking each of us to do! It is truth that sets us free.
 
So, how can we be true to ourselves and by extension to others?
 
Here are some questions that you can reflect on to help you get to the truth of the matter:
1.Why have you chosen to do what you do for Carnival?
2. What are your views about the body, is it ablessing or a burden?
3. Do you think anything to do with the body is evil?
4. Can you really go out to fete or play Mas and be a witness to modesty and clean fun, or is it just a front to be in d Mas and excuse a lil slackness?
5. What are my thoughts about others who do differently from me?
6. Does my choice bring peace to my heart?
 
 
At the end of the day our answers will help us to discover which spirit might be influencing our  choice. Is it my own spirit, my fears, my desires, and struggles? Is it the spirit of the evil one that is  trying to  stifle the love of God in me? Or is it the Spirit of the Lord  that is speaking in my  conscience?  I pray that it is the Spirit that leads you this Carnival. May you face your truth,
 
If you can’t figure out if you are being true to yourself, others, and God post your answers to the questions here and we will be happy to help you to find your truth.
 
Remember, “ There are as many ways to God as there are people” Pope Benedict XVI