Cosmetology & God's Sovereignty
I'll be the first to admit that I'm going through a quarter life crisis. I'm rediscovering the passion for Christ I had when I was 14, with no intention of losing it this time around. I'm settling nicely into marriage, which is on a steady up and up. I'm maintaining healthy friendships, proving to be lifelong. There's a semblance of a social life, if I'm not comparing it to college, and thankfully, I rarely am. But, then there's my career...
Once, I was told, out loud, that I'm "too smart to be doing hair." A few times, people have said to either me or my parents that they wasted their money sending me to school if I was "just going to be a hairdresser." Lots more than once I've been given an absolutely confused look through the mirror when I tell clients where I graduated from. Oftentimes, I lose myself and my purpose in these thoughts. I spiral into deep gut-wrenching ideas about how I'm not doing enough to prove that I am smart, not making enough to recoup the L of a business degree it feels like I'm taking, and simply not charismatic enough to turn those confused looks into dazzled awe, followed by a book purchase or two.
And in all those raging thoughts, it settles in me that I have to find peace. And peace I find in God's sovereignty - especially when I'm doing hair.
God's sovereignty is a pretty big idea. It's basically the concept that God is God and He does what He wants, when He wants, how He wants, for His pleasure and glory, and in that, He's got me. Me? ME! As a Christian who's decided to not just say she believes in Christ, but actually follow Him for once, I've decided that it's best for me to trust Him. Because, if He can create the universe and hold it all together for all this time, why should I think He's going to just throw me off the rails?
So, when I feel like I'm losing it, and when I feel like I have not a clue what to do next, I do the only thing there is to do right now. I trust that God has got it all under control and I take the next client that walks into DryBar - White Plains.
If you've never heard of DryBar, you've been living under a rock for 7 years. It's the no frills, no cut, no color, blow outs only salon that replicates a bar by the names of the receptionists (bartenders) and styles (mai tai, cosmo, southern comfort), etc. *but I know the church folk gonna act like they don't know what I'm talking about. It's only $45 for a blowout, we get you in, washed, blown and out in 45 mins, we'll give you wine, coffee, mimosas, or spa water - if you're fancy, and truly, it's like white girl or black girl with a relaxer heaven. And it shows me God every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Close your eyes and picture a head of hair. Open your eyes quickly so you can keep reading. I'm sure you saw color and length. Red hair. Brown hair. Blonde hair. Grey hair. Purple hair. Short hair. Shoulder length hair. Long hair.
Let me tell you about hair. There's fine hair, medium hair, course hair, thin hair, thick hair, straight hair, wavy hair, curly hair, coily hair, frizzy hair, manageable hair, damaged hair, porous hair, balding hair, too much hair etc. etc. etc. AND THEN THERE ARE HEADS! Huge heads, big heads, normal heads, small heads, tiny heads...and any of the aforementioned hairs can be on any one of these heads. GOD DOES WHAT HE WANTS. He gives you whatever head He wants to give you and grows out of that scalp whatever type of hair He chooses. And that amazes me every time I get a client with hair that no matter how many products I mix up, nothing will tame their frizz. It amazes me when the biggest heads have the tiniest bit of hair. It amazes me when the pounds of hair fall from the messy bun and it's the easiest hair I've ever done. It amazes me that God is so big to give us how ever many strands of hair He feels and is still so good to know, off the top of His invisible head, exactly how many He gave.
So when these thoughts consume my mind about how I may not be smart enough, may not be doing enough, it may not all be working out right now - I consider that God is the creator of all things; and as such, He knows exactly what He is doing. All the pieces that don't make sense to me right now - hair, writing, marketing - are all part of His plan. Just like, when a client is sure they have the worst hair ever, and sometimes they are right, and I sprinkle my magic on it and make it beautiful! God works all things out according to His will and I'm glad He gently reminds me. Submission to His sovereignty is not easy, but it is a good choice. If He can control something as simple as hair, He can surely control something as complex (as I make it) as my life.
“I work all things according to the counsel of my will.” (Ephesians 1:11)
