I Need A Spiritual Haircut!

What are you talking about? I'll bet that's exactly what you were thinking when you read the title of this post. Come on, admit it. You know you were. There, now doesn't it feel better to just tell the truth about these things? I'm serious about the title though - I am in need of a spiritual haircut.

Given that you are not mind readers, I'll explain what I mean by that statement. I'll preface my explanation with an anecdotal story, which I suppose is actually the explanation (confused yet?). Buckle up and hang in there, this will be a short trip.

I went to get my hair cut today. Prior to today's trip to the salon it had been 6 months or more since I'd visited. I was in extreme need of some hair therapy. I really thought someone was going to call the hair police at any moment. It was truly that bad!

Now, I seriously have no idea if a haircut has the effect on men that it does on women. For that matter, perhaps I am making rash generalizations about other women based on my own experience. All I know is that when I get a new "do" I feel like a new woman. It gives me a spring in my step and a whole new outlook on life. I actually feel like everything is going to come up roses. I may be indulging in a smidge of hyperbole, but the sentiment is sincere enough.

So, that brings us back to the spiritual haircut. I was sitting here reveling in the fact that I feel so much better after losing those 5 little inches of hair and wondering how much more it would affect me if I allowed God to do a little trimming on me. Uh, oh - I think I just saw some of you close your browsers at that last statement.

Often, we dread those seasons of pruning in our lives. It can be painful at times, but if we heed the words of Jesus in John 15:1-2, we will realize that the pruning and trimming is necessary for us to grow. Besides, you will notice that the scripture says that He only prunes those who are bearing fruit. So, if He's not pruning, you should be seriously concerned at this point.

The pruning process very much reminds me of going to the salon. There is much anticipation about what the end result will look like. You fear losing those locks in a horrible hair catastrophe. You know that it has to be done, you know that it will grow back, but you're still a little nervous. One point in this comparison doesn't hold up - we have nothing to fear when Papa starts trimming. He is gentle, and he cuts perfectly every time.

Now, I'm going to enjoy my new "do" and seek my Father for a while in hopes of a little sprucing up on the spiritual side of life. I love that I can rest in His arms and call Him Abba, Father, Papa. Don't you just love our God?

Blessings!