A bad hair day!

 What is the price of a good haircut? The length of the lockdown is becoming increasingly noticeable by the length of our hair! Probably more than anything else the ability to feel good about yourself can be determined by how we are able to care for ourselves. It is important that we maintain normal routines which bring structure to our lives. Yet the very practice of these rituals can claim more importance when we allow them to determine our own value to God and to others.

We notice this when we see the Pharisees emphasizing religious reasons for the common disciplines of good hygiene and cleaning utensils. We know even in the time of the pandemic there is a checklist we go through when going to the market: one person does the shopping; we wear a mask over the mouth and the nose; we protect the eyes; we observe a physical distance; we hand sanitize and we clean the shopping trolley or basket before using it. Yet we can notice that there becomes a moral imperative where these rituals take on a deeper meaning when we see others not observing "the rules". There can be a rising of bitterness and condemnation which tends to label a person as unclean. We even see it when people are actually isolated with COVID19 and do not enjoy these freedoms. 

As Christians, we are called to notice these feelings rising up inside us to ensure that our prayer is not just lip service. We need to guard about making health directives religious lore about the worth of the other person. Our lives are called to listen to God's voice in the midst of the things that we consider will make us unclean and untouchable. Yet it is what arises within us which makes us unclean. This is the reason why we need to be on guard against this stinking thinking which can lead us into acts that alienate, isolate and condemn others. Especially at this time, we need to find ways that we can practically support each other through these most difficult days. Especially if it just feels like a bad hair day!