Soul Scientist

Matthew 10:30 ERV God even ·knows [numbers; counts] how many hairs are on your head.

Psalm 139:1 GNT Lord, you have examined me and you know me.

“Shave and a haircut.”

“Two bits.”

Did you hear the rhythm of that quote in your head? Or better yet, did you tap it out on a hard surface with your fingers or hand as you read it?

Have you ever used that little quote as a “secret” knock on a good friend or family member’s door? If so, do you remember the feeling of something special shared with the person who answered the door?

Whether you did (or not) have good memories associated with it, I hope you’ll appreciate a little exploration of this thought.

Earlier this week, I had a special haircut usually reserved for military boot camp or cancer patients losing their hair. Yup, you got it – that close buzz cut that looks, feels, and hits different in mind and heart. An outward symbol of shared circumstances only fully known by those who’ve had to have a haircut like this before.

This haircut hasn’t just freed me from the time and effort of styling my hair. It’s released me from the sorrow of what I can’t control into the surrender of what I can joyfully receive.

Please hear me – surrender doesn’t deny grief nor pain nor does it diminish the weight of grief and pain. Rather, surrender helps me stand up under the weight of tears and loss. And the strength found in my submission to my Good God’s plan helps me see everything differently like He does. A kind of seeing that brings a brand new view of today through the lens of gratitude set on God’s glory. A kind of seeing that brings focus to today’s purpose as a good opportunity to participate in God’s good work for eternity.

We can see a glimpse of this idea with the story of God sending Samuel to anoint David as the future king of Israel (see 1 Samuel chapter 16). In this story, even though the people there at this time saw David, they surely didn’t see him in the same way God did. The people saw a shepherd boy. God saw a king.

Yet Samuel, David, and eventually everyone within hearing distance (including David’s father, Jesse) in that story had a front-seat view of God’s good work in, through, and for them with these words, For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7b ESV).

With all of that in mind, what do you see when you look in the mirror today?

Do you see regret or redemption?  Do you see yourself as not enough or as having been exchanged for righteousness?

Or more importantly, what do you see when you look in Scripture?

Do you see yourself as overlooked or as deeply loved? Do you see condemnation for you by God or commitment from God to you?

When we look deeply into Scripture, we can see ourselves as God sees us. We don’t see our outward deficiencies; we see His inward design for good. We don’t see our sins or shortcomings but His own Son sacrificed for us. We don’t see our failed attempts at something better but our Christ Jesus risen and reigning forever.

Because when we are looking deeply into Scripture, we see love as Jesus sees us in love.

Scripture shows us how God sees us.

And there in Scripture, we can rest in the truth that God sees Christ in us as He sees us in Christ.

The beauty of that truth on how God sees us in Christ shines brighter than anything I can see this side of heaven. And the strength of that truth is enough to put iron into my spine to take a deeper look into what I value in my daily life in comparison with what my Good God sees as important for my life.

Because I know that much of what I consider as important today really isn’t. And I know that much of what gets my attention now isn’t worth more than a fleeting glance for eternity.

Isn’t it just like God to use a haircut to bring me closer to His plan for good for me? Just ask Samson, Absalom, or John the Baptist – I bet they could speak to this and well, at that. I think they might say something like this: our strength isn’t found in our outward appearance; it’s found in our God alive in us.  

God for us. God with us. God in us.

He is here for this loss of now and this look beyond into the not-yet.

He is here for this faith and this freedom.

He is here for this day and this desire.

And the truth that God doesn’t change or leave, no matter what, can change everything for anyone who hears and believes.

As importantly, that’s a truth you and I need to be telling everyone who will listen, no matter if they (or us) have hair on our or their heads (or not).

A few explanations for this post:

1. Today’s gift for the musically inclined is that you didn’t have to listen to me sing or play “shave and a haircut.” I have no rhythm, despite the best efforts of my childhood piano teacher. Every lesson she pounded out the song on the piano top to try and keep me on track with the music. Bless her, the metronome just wasn’t enough for me.

• A very special thank you to the kind and patient lady who not only cut my hair for free but made me feel seen and loved in the process. There’s nothing quite like hearing “now, honey, you just come on back in again if we can help you in any way” while knowing that she meant it from down deep in her heart. She understood the meaning of the hair on the salon floor that morning and the hair on the shower floor on the days before.

• Another heartfelt thank you to those friends who’ve graced me with hats made with such love! Your thoughtfulness brings a smile to me and to those who see me wearing these hats, too. And for those friends who’ve graced Andy and me with food, cards, calls, texts, emails, running errands, other lovely gifts and desire to help – thank you! We are so very grateful to our Good God for all of YOU!

• Speaking of telling others about my Jesus, it’s been delightful seeing how the common ground of cancer gives me an open door to easily and simply talk about the Good News of my Good God. I can testify He doesn’t waste anything but brings good and His glory from everything when seen through eyes of faith.

Written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2024.