I went to the barbershop today to get my hair cut as usual. Today, however, is Thanksgiving Day. But my barber offered his services for a cut today and I agreed. And before I had left, the presence of the Lord showed up as well.
Hmm...Barbershop Theology...You come in and get your cut and talk about culture and faith to a people that go to church often to a people that do not see the relevance for going to church at all. This wasn't your ordinary church service.
So I found myself getting my bald head and beard tightened up. I think we covered everything from relationships (metro, hetero, homo, no - sexual relationships), ethical dilemmas found, how we worship, the differences in organized religion and more. And as these Timberland, black tee wearing, goal oriented African American men began to spit culture and theology, I began to listen. Listen to what their hearts were saying. What's going on my black brother, what IS going on?
The frustrations that they shared, the contradictions that they have experienced in the church and even the sinful lives that we live, all seem to dance in my spirit of a time that I could relate to. The gift of presence is a marvelous thing, but can I truly exercise this...and not be in my Sunday's finest. And what about the preachers pushing the Bentley's whilst their members push themselves to make it to this 'holy space'. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty. Early in the morning, my soul shall rise to thee. And then there was an outburst, "that's how I need to go...like the story in the Bible where I am taken up from here all at once!" No 'body' to leave here on earth versus the 'spirit' only ascending. Deep, my man. Deep.
Three African American males. Doing the dog gone thang. Entreprenuer, Pentecostal, barber, club owner, model, engineer, Seventh Day Adventist, preacher, Father, Christians, daddys, United Methodist, and even a cultural anthropologist all in dialogue. In our earthly chanced meeting. In divine order that we could speak on the Word and relate it to how we live.
Will lives be changed by it? I know that mine will. I can smile on this day as one of the best days to have ever witnessed God at work.
Giving thanks, living thankful.
Hmm...Barbershop Theology...You come in and get your cut and talk about culture and faith to a people that go to church often to a people that do not see the relevance for going to church at all. This wasn't your ordinary church service.
So I found myself getting my bald head and beard tightened up. I think we covered everything from relationships (metro, hetero, homo, no - sexual relationships), ethical dilemmas found, how we worship, the differences in organized religion and more. And as these Timberland, black tee wearing, goal oriented African American men began to spit culture and theology, I began to listen. Listen to what their hearts were saying. What's going on my black brother, what IS going on?
The frustrations that they shared, the contradictions that they have experienced in the church and even the sinful lives that we live, all seem to dance in my spirit of a time that I could relate to. The gift of presence is a marvelous thing, but can I truly exercise this...and not be in my Sunday's finest. And what about the preachers pushing the Bentley's whilst their members push themselves to make it to this 'holy space'. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty. Early in the morning, my soul shall rise to thee. And then there was an outburst, "that's how I need to go...like the story in the Bible where I am taken up from here all at once!" No 'body' to leave here on earth versus the 'spirit' only ascending. Deep, my man. Deep.
Three African American males. Doing the dog gone thang. Entreprenuer, Pentecostal, barber, club owner, model, engineer, Seventh Day Adventist, preacher, Father, Christians, daddys, United Methodist, and even a cultural anthropologist all in dialogue. In our earthly chanced meeting. In divine order that we could speak on the Word and relate it to how we live.
Will lives be changed by it? I know that mine will. I can smile on this day as one of the best days to have ever witnessed God at work.
Giving thanks, living thankful.
