John Kim
Get a Haircut
Romans 8:6 “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.” When I was working in Korea, my colleagues and I once watched a documentary on Quakers during lunch. Apparently before they become adults, teens can go out and experience the world before deciding to continue on as Quakers or leave the faith. When one teen was asked what sorts of activities one partakes in during this time, he answered “well you know… get drunk, sleep around, do drugs… [pause]… get a haircut.” We thought it so funny that getting a haircut would go in the same category as these other activities. But this morning I committed the sin of getting a haircut! Specifically I had cleared time in the morning to hang out with God, but in my fleshly desire to look good for some filming I had later in the afternoon, I went to the salon instead. It forced me to change my lunch plans, which I then got minor food poisoning from. I was scrambling for the rest of the day and by the time I finally got home and got the kids to bed, I literally felt like I was going to die. Scripture says that when we let our sinful nature take over, it leads to death. There’s no 11th commandment in scripture stating “thou shalt not get a haircut” but it is clear that we are to prioritize Him and listen when he speaks. I did feel uneasy about heading to the salon today, and though it’s a relatively minor thing (I mean I didn’t kill anyone), I do feel like I need to repent. Lord, I’m sorry for not valuing you, for not creating the space to hear you clearly, and for not obeying your call. I submit my will to yours tonight, and give you thanks for your unending love. You are my first, second and third priority. In Jesus’ name, Amen.