Scripture reading: Matthew 10:16

A Hair-Raising Witness

You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria,

and even into [the hair salon at the mall]. (Acts 1:8)

 

It was the quintessential witnessing opportunity. Sitting in the chair at the hair salon, I had thirty minutes to share the Gospel with my stylist.  When she had cut my hair once before, I had sown some spiritual seeds into the conversation. Now I was back, hoping perhaps to reel in my fish!

Gazing down over the rims of her glasses she said, “I remember you; you’re that priest.” I tried to explain again the difference between priests and pastors. “O yeah,” she grinned impishly. “You’re the type of priest that gets married. What was the name of your church again?” I was about to launch into an explanation of the beauties of evangelical Protestantism but she never gave me the chance. “I’ve got it all figured out,” she said. “You remember the movie The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, don’t you? Well, all of us have some good parts, some bad parts, and some ugly parts. That explains why we are the way we are! I learned it all from Clint Eastwood.” She punctuated her remarks with the scissors. Hoping to avoid the sharp end, I realized that if I was going to witness to this lady I would have to fight for the opportunity. Praying silently for Pentecostal power from on high, I was just about to initiate a new strategy when she began talking again. “My dad was a real Christian. He was a deacon in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. He taught me that all the odd numbers are bad luck and all the even numbers are good luck. That’s why the number 13 is so unlucky. It’s an odd number (7) plus and even number (6). You believe that too, don’t you?”

To be honest, in all my life I had never even thought about this question, but since I had been to seminary, I figured I could handle it. However, just as I mentally finished formulating my response, the electric clippers were buzzing so loudly in my ears I could hardly think. Above the din, she was talking again. “They found Noah’s Ark, you know. I learned all about it on some TV show. Satellites spotted it from up in space. They used to think all that stuff in the Bible was just made-up, but not any more. It’s true.”

I decided to avoid completely the debate over Noah’s ark. I knew time was running out. I had to act quickly if I was going to witness to this woman. This was my one window of opportunity so I went straight for the jugular: “So, have you surrendered your life to Jesus Christ?” For a brief millisecond she paused, dumb- founded. But then she went right back to work, her scissors and mouth perfectly synchronized. “Do Protestant priests believe in the Mother of God?”

I offered some lame response but by this point in the conversation I was tired in body, mind and soul. I just wanted to go home. But although I was done, she wasn’t. For fifteen more minutes I sat captive in her chair listening as she explained the miraculous image on the shroud of Turin, gave a rationale for why the Fourth of July is a more important holiday than Christmas, and introduced me to Stephen Hawking’s layman’s guide on philosophy that she kept in her cabinet next to the curlers.

Finally, it was over. “That’s quite a cowlick you have there!” she announced as she brushed the stray hairs from my shoulders. “If you use lots of gel it shouldn’t cause much embarrassment.” It felt good to stand up and stretch. “Thanks,” I said faintly. Waving goodbye, she said, “I really enjoyed our conversation! You’ve been a real blessing.”

 

No man ever followed Jesus who didn’t become a fisher of men . . .

If you’re not fishing, you’re not following.—Dawson Trotman

 

point to ponder • Effective witnessing requires prepared ears as well as a prepared mouth.

prayer focus • The person who cuts your hair.