Life At The Hair Salon

Saturday, I did a new client.  I have done her daughter’s hair, and the daughter referred her to me.  It seems that the client’s mother has been in the hospital 8 or 9 times in the last two years.  She is tired and is refusing to eat.  She is ready to go home.

This lady was emotionally and physically worn out.  With a thorough scalp-massaging shampoo and a slightly more perky hair style, I helped to lift her spirits.  Through conversation and discussion including  one of my other wonderful clients, she was able to shed some tears and voice how she felt about her Mother’s impending death.  I think that she left refreshed and better prepared to handle the situation.

Normally, I am booked at least 2 weeks ahead, and I almost never have an opening for a last minute client on a Saturday, but God knew.  He knew what this lady needed, and he made sure that the right client was there with me to help her.  She left with hugs and hope.  This is what doing hair is really all about.

One salon I worked in had several interesting stylists. One in particular liked to wear either blond or Ronald McDonald red hair. She had 4 boys by 4 different men, but she knew who, when, where, and that child support had better be there. She liked to hang out at a certain club.

One day, while I was at the front desk, a man approached me and said, “Hey, I saw you last night.” My response was “Where?” as I knew that I had been at home. “Down at the (He named the above club).”

“No it wasn’t me.”

“Yeah, you were over in the corner with all of those guys surrounding you.”

“No, it wasn’t me. I was at home last night.”

“Yes it was.”

“No it wasn’t. I don’t drink, I can’t stand the smoke. I have never been to that club!”

He kept insisting that it was me. I finally had to take him back on the floor (you were not allowed back there unless you were getting your hair done) to see his girlfriend to convince him that it was not me. The stylist mentioned above was doing her hair. She almost dropped her marcel irons she was laughing so hard at the idea that I could have been at that club. With her reaction and his girlfriend saying “That was not her,” he finally believed me.

The hiliarious part is that this particular club was not just a club, it was a strip club. The really hiliarious part is that at this club, the customers got up on stage and stripped.

At the time, I had a very distinct asymetrical hair cut, almost shaved on one side, feathered into a tapered back with the right side short on top and a long layer past my shoulder. It would have been hard to confuse me with someone else.

I have often wondered who this other person was, and how much of her stuff that I have gotten blamed for!

Today’s blog entry is not my own. It was written by Pete Wilson, Pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville. His blog is “Without Wax“, and I receive his entries everyday via email. However, if you are one of my clients, you will know that this is exactly what I have been saying all along. It’s just really nice to know that someone else is also saying it.

“Today is a new day. It’s a new era. Regardless of who you voted for or why, it’s time to switch gears. It’s time to pray for Obama as he transitions to become the President of the United States.

Let’s move on.”

And furthermore, you need to know this is not a surprise to God. Before the billions of dollars were spent on this campaign, God already knew the outcome. He wasn’t sitting around the television last night ringing his hands like you were.

He doesn’t need a Republican or a Democrat, an electoral vote, or a state. He’s not red or blue. He’s God.

He’s God and I’m not. You’re Not. Obama is not. McCain is not.

So if your candidate lost. I’m sorry. If you’re worried your issues aren’t going to be being addressed. I’m sorry.

But God is still God and He’s still sitting on His throne.

Pastor Pete Wilson