“Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.” (Matthew 5:19b The Message Bible)
I can only speak from my own experience, not yours, but perhaps one day, just perhaps, you might have the same question I have in mind. Looking in the actual mirror, not the mirror of life, even though what I am about to discuss reflects what we experience in our years, I came up with a question. The question: “When are those secretive hairs going to tell their fellow hairs on the top of my head their secret?” I cannot understand why the hairs on my arms and legs remain silent, refusing for some reason to share with the top of my head. They certainly have influenced the decision of the hairs on my ears, nose, and face to join in the silence treatment, even though the top of my head has a facial expression that communicates that it is begging for an answer. The top of my head feels so left out. Actually, the top of my head feels singled out, treated different than mostly every other part of my body that still sprouts hair and has escaped signs of aging. Case in point, the hairs that remain silent, harboring their secret, surely have shared their secret with every part of my ears, every part of my nose, and my back. Yet, the top of my head has been left out in the cold, literally at certain times of the year. Let those other hairs keep their secret! I can wear bald well, realizing that regardless of my age, I am still fearfully and wonderfully made. Hair on the top of my head or not, the Lord has still allowed my days to row on one more time and I’m grateful, thankful, and I am still going to do my best to be useful to Him. So to my other thriving hairs on my body, hear me loud and clear, “Keep your secret to yourself!”
After pondering over the first question, I was prompted to consider a behavior that does not involve assigning traits to parts of our bodies that cannot respond with an explanation. Oh, stop thinking about your hair on your head for a moment, whether it be lengthy or short, straight, or stylishly curly, braided or buzzed, faded, or falling out. Whether it is purchased hair or personal hair that grows out of your roots, that’s not important. It’s still yours and you’re looking very good today. But again, stop thinking about your hair for a moment and think about how we should not mimic the behavior of the hair in the first paragraph. Let’s not follow their assigned character of keeping a secret from others who are waiting, sometimes without even knowing it, for you to share your knowledge about growth. No I’m not talking about hair growth or any physical growth. I am talking about spiritual growth. Therefore a second question, still of a personal nature, takes center stage today. Here it is and I will tell you in advance of posing the question that I am hoping your short answer is a one-word answer that is shaped with integrity and solidified with sincerity. That short answer is none other than, “Today!” So you say, “Alright already! What is the second question?” Here goes! “When are you going to tell other parts of humanity why you have so much spiritual growth taking place in your space, the space of life?” Only you can answer it, but again I hope you reply. “Today!” You are almost ready to go out the door, but first one more look in the mirror to checkout your hair. I don’t know why because I already said you are looking good. But please take another minute to look in the mirror called God’s word that will help you be true to your response today’s second question. See the familiar verses below, verses presented in a paraphrased form. They just might motivate you into sharing your growth and development with somebody, saved and/or unsaved! Be blessed!
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:1-2 The Message Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King