“Is it because you know that what you present to the world is a persona, a mask, that it is a very fragile disguise, that God alone knows what is underneath since you clearly do not, perhaps nothing less than the self itself, and that if the persona fails, what is revealed is unspeakable (literally, because you can’t speak it), like what was revealed when the Phantom of the Opera had his masked ripped off, a no-face, a vacancy, a hole that is much worse than the ugliest face—so frightening, in fact, that remember, as a child, crawling under the seat in the movie.”

In 1 Kings 8:27, Solomon asks the question: “But will God indeed dwell on earth?” He answers his own question, in the form of a prayer, with a somewhat stifled, “Yes.”

God’s proximity to us and our own self-awareness go hand in hand. When God gets close, we get a little worried, and rightfully so. Most of our efforts to put God’s presence at bay have more to with us than him. As Percy points out, we’ll do anything to remain anonymous for fear that our true selves will be exposed. We often find ourselves in an awkward dance with the King of the Universe. He perpetually moves towards us, while we continually sidestep His advances. We’re easily distracted, easily tempted, easily satisfied.

He’s relentless, however. He does not concede to our pretensions or fragile disguises. Like a good parent, God does not always give us what we want. He knows that relationship is better than isolation, salvation better than self-destruction. If we need clear proof of this, God points to Jesus Christ. Jesus is God’s guarantee that He has not given up on humanity. When we were isolated and abusive, ignorant and rebellious God chose to become one of us. In Jesus, God answered Solomon’s question—“But will God indeed dwell on earth?”—with affirmation and resolve.

We may be found out, but we’re not alone.