Just had a haircut. The person cutting my hair made a comment about some changes made since she started cutting my hair. Specifically, it’s shorter now than when I started with her.
Later, on my way home, I started thinking about all the styles that my hair had gone through. As kids, we always had the very short military cut—white sidewalls. My parents did not allow anything else. When I grew older, around high school, I was allowed to have a little bit more length to my hair. Then, in college, I grew my hair and had an Afro (I have curly hair). Later on, for a short while I sported a ponytail. Finally, I started having my hair cut shorter and shorter. I have come almost full circle (though I haven’t gone back to the white sidewalls).
So what’s the point of all this? I was just wondering if the different hairstyles of my life are somehow connected in a symbolic way to what was going on in my mind—my mindset—at that time. For example, the white sidewall hair was at a time when I was “totally” under the authority of my parents. As I grew older I began to express my desire to have a different hairstyle. I was then allowed to do so during high school. My college Afro was an expression of my independence—a time when I was establishing my own individuality. When I finally took on a specific kind of responsibility, my hairstyle changed to fit the new role I had embraced.
I am reminded of the Bible’s reference to the Nazirite vow (Numbers 6.1-21). It is a special vow to dedicate oneself to God for a specific purpose, usually for a specific period of time. During that time there are certain actions required, among which was the following: “During the entire period of their Nazirite vow, no razor may be used on their head. They must be holy until the period of their dedication to the LORD is over; they must let their hair grow long” (Numbers 6.5 NIV). In other words the long hair, at that time, symbolized and testified to one’s commitment to the vow that was made to the Lord. It also served as a reminder for that commitment.
I do believe that one’s external appearance is not necessarily an absolute indicator of one’s true character or mindset. But it still is worthwhile to ponder whether what’s on the outside is an appropriate or reliable indicator of what’s inside. As we look toward the New Year, perhaps it may be a good time to think about the kind of commitments we will make, or have made, to the Lord. And perhaps it may be worthwhile to consider how our outside appearance may serve as a reminder and present a symbolic testimony to our commitments.
—Keith Y. Jainga