Recently, I have helped lead a few men in a bible study. It has turned into a belief study as we look at what we believe, how it has been shaped, and how it shapes our current views. I am excited by the idea of wading into the water of dogma, doctrine, and opinion. I believe that with the right attitude, this process can glorify God.
I started cutting my hair in college, and the first time was a disaster. I left a three-square-inch patch of hair on the back of my head. It was not until basketball practice later that day that someone notified me. Looking back at that time reveals sobering truth. This bad haircut is mainly the result of blind spots.
There are a few things that help us protect against making these errors. Lighting is key. You get shadows if you do not have enough light or the light is poorly placed. Shadows deceive and give illusions that are not always helpful. They can trick us into thinking we are fine when we are not or the other way around. We are anxious when we shouldn’t.
The other source for clarity comes from mirrors. A mirror allows a reflection of the spots impossible to see. Adding a second mirror gives a view a single mirror cannot produce. The more mirrors we use, the better view of ourselves we get. If we apply this principle to our lives and relationships, we get a life full of self-awareness.
Do we have people in our lives willing to take on the role of the mirror? The answer is probably yes, but there is a more important question that we need to ask. Would I rather be a mirror than see a reflection of myself? Letting someone be your mirror takes a special kind of integrity and humility. I am hardly ever appreciative of the reflection. Especially when the mirror is my wife.
There is a healthy truth here. The only person that can cut your hair is you. You cannot cut the hair of others. You can only reflect. When we focus on cutting others’ hair, not only does ours grow long, but we end up hurting the person we are trying to help because we can only see the blind spot. We cannot see the whole picture.
While cutting hair, light and mirrors are the two elements that produce success. When we apply this to Christianity, we understand these elements as scripture and community. One without the other will cause darkness, blind spots or shadows. We need light and mirrors to cut our hair effectively. We need scripture and community to grow the way the Lord intends us to grow.
As we journey to discover what we believe and why we believe it, I pray that I let the light shine and resist the urge to look away from the mirror, especially when the reflection is ugly. Cutting hair well requires practice. I must practice turning on the lights and letting the mirrors reflect the truth. Read scripture and allow friends to offer the truth.
Proverbs 27:6 – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”
Nos & Rehtaf, Dnabsuh 