On going to the Hairdressers

I went to the hairdressers today.
I've been going there for a long time so they know me.
I feel comfortable.

My stylist has cut and highlighted my hair since she first started training.
So she knows without me telling her that
Sometimes I leave it curly.
Sometimes I like it straight, but not straightened.
She knows my fringe is sacred.
Never too short.
I have a calf-lick at the front of my hair, so it has to be tamed.
I don't like to show much forehead.

She has a list of the colours I have in my highlights.
She knows I drink coffee.
She always puts me at the middle sink if she can,
As that's the one with the massage chair.
She knows I'm happy to chat and catch up for a while,
But not for too long, as I like to read and browse the magazines.
She knows that I don't talk during the final rinse,
I like to enjoy the head massage with my eyes closed.

I sound demanding.

I'm not.

She just knows.

But still checks that I want things the way they usually are.

Today I mixed it up a bit.
Had a tone of auburn added to the highlights.
You've got to live dangerously sometimes.

She knows about me, Chris and the boys.
I know about her, her boyfriend, her Mum and her little brother.

What I didn't know though was that when she has children she wants to go to church.
She wants the moral and social aspects of it she told me today.
But she doesn't believe in God.

And there it was....
That moment of decision....
Do I stick my head back in the magazine?

Or do I take the chance that she might be waiting to be asked the question why?

So I asked.

And she told.

And we talked.....

About God
About life
About death
About heaven
About faith
About prayer
About bad things happening to good people.
About only good things happening to people who go to church.
About not being put off by what other people think, say or believe.
About finding out for yourself how good God is
(Psalm 34:8)

And you know the funny thing?
I nearly cancelled that appointment because of heavy snow forecast,
But I changed it to the morning instead.
She had a cancellation.
What a coincidence.



#OneWord365 Content

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

20 years of ministry

I hadn't realised it myself. I'm not very good with dates, and years, and anniversaries. But yesterday my Facebook Timeline was full of it. It's 20 years since we were commissioned and ordained. 28th May 1993 at The Royal Albert Hall, London. As I listened to 'Our Songs' The ones written for us, and for the occasion I became a bit nostalgic. As I looked at the video And saw my friends and colleagues I almost felt a pang of grief For the people we were The things we shared. But this is a letter to the 25 yr old girl I was then From the woman I am now "You made it! By the skin of your teeth at times but you got there in the end. And this ending Full of brass, and drums, and singing and laughter and drama and dance is just the beginning. In the years ahead you will know joy Real joy Laughing so hard no sound comes out. Friendships that are only in their infancy here Will become your anchor in the days ahead. And people that ...
Read more

Five Minute Friday: Song

Image
It's our Silver Wedding Anniversary on Tuesday. 25 years. I told someone the other day and she gasped, and said, "You don't look old enough" Which is absolutely the right response. We're having a few friends over next Friday night to celebrate. There will be food And dancing And fun And song. 'Our song' to be precise. As we met in the 80's, Our song is 'Solid' (Ashford and Simpson). It's the song we used to dance to at parties. It's the song that made us laugh. It's the song we always talk about when reminiscing. Our 25 years together hasn't been perfect You won't be surprised to hear that. There has been much joyful song. But sometimes the notes have turned dischordant. Sometimes we've sung in a minor key. More recently we have sung songs of lament. But to mis-quote Gloria Gaynor We have survived. We're still standing (Elton John) And we're still singing from the same hymn ...
Read more

STOP! Look and listen.

I helped at Nathan's Christmas Fair yesterday. It was packed with excited children and exhausted parents, so pretty much business as usual. Do you ever want to scream STOP at this time of year? Enough. Too much already. Mum, my sister and I sorted out Dad's things on Tuesday. As we filled the car with bags for the charity shop it felt so final. A person's life contained in a car-load. STOP. Enough. Too much already. Today has been a better day. The sun has shone. The sky turned a brilliant blue after the snow showers. And I had a lovely coffee with Chris at the Garden Centre. As we were driving back I remembered the Advent challenge I gave our congregation a few years back. It came from the carol, 'It came upon the midnight clear', And the challenge was to 'Hush the noise, ye men (and women) of strife And hear the angels sing.' Or, STOP. Look for the reality of His presence in the madness of Christmas. Listen for Him. His ange...
Read more