Double-Minded

It's that time of the year when I go through the cycle of hair obsession. When beach vacation looms and the heat of the summer is oppressive, I always go through terrible angst. To cut, or not to cut? My thick and hot hair is like a small bush right now. Yesterday, I went in for my complimentary bang trim, and my hairdresser, who I have used for 4 years now said, "I can't believe you still have long hair."
"I know," I whined, "Neither can I. It is so hot and so much trouble...but when I cut it, I always cry."
She looked at me, smirking.
"What?" I asked.
"You look good in short hair. You should cut it. All that blow drying and washing and styling. Short hair is so cool and so easy."
"I know...."
"How about this," she suggested, "Send me pictures of you with short hair and I will send you my ideas."
"Ok."
So, I sketched my current hairdo, and my potential hairdo. I considered opening it up to a Facebook poll since my sisters REFUSE to discuss my hair with them.

I am immobilized by the pros and cons.
Pro: long hair more feminine /   con: long hair more hot
Pro: short hair much easier to care for /  con: short hair upkeep requires trims every 6-8 weeks
Pro: long hair can be pulled back into ponytail /  con: annoying long hair always just pulled back in pony tail.....
Etc. etc. etc.

Sometimes it is best not to over-think an issue. Honestly, I am shallow, but not so shallow as to think the decision about my hair really matters in the grand scheme of things. I bring up the hair issue as a humorous illustration. However, indecision in spiritual matters can mean the difference between eternal life in Heaven, or eternal damnation. There is nothing funny about careening from right to wrong in this choice.

We are reading "I don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist" by Norman Geisler in our family Bible Study. Do you know that rather than come to the conclusion that the intricate design necessary for life had to have had a designer, many scientists propose that life was begun by aliens visiting the planet? (Of course this ignores the obvious problem of who created the aliens...) Or they will claim that life can spontaneously erupt given infinite time, but bump up against the fact that there wasn't infinite time...the universe had a beginning. (Pretty much everyone agrees with that now as the evidence for the Big Bang continues to build.) Or the one I find most intriguing to avoid the need to suggest a Creator outside the confines of space, matter, and time: parallel universes. Seems to me this doesn't avoid the need for explaining the origin of the universe...in fact, it multiplies the need for each and every parallel universe...(But if there is a parallel universe, I want to see the parallel me with short hair before I make this to cut or not to cut decision.)

Another case of indecision, tottering, swerving, wavering between right and wrong: Is the baby inside the womb human?  I bump up against this all the time now in my volunteer work as a pro-life sidewalk counselor at an abortion mill. I have heard the most convoluted arguments to support the view that somehow the baby inside the human mom, created in conjunction with a human dad, with unique human DNA, and a beating human heart within 3 weeks, is somehow not human.  This argument helps some to justify killing the baby through abortion. If we can just call "it" a blob of tissue, and remove any disturbing talk of humanity, we can eradicate "it" through whatever gruesome means necessary and keep our souls clean. Can't we?

The book of James warns that double-minded people are unstable. Instability results when we are not on firm footing, not properly anchored, or on crumbling foundations. Spiritually, if we aren't building our lives around the truth of God's revelation to us, the restoration of a holy relationship through the atoning death, resurrection, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, we will ultimately totter. All creation speaks of His presence, and the Truth. When we know His word and the sacred value He puts on all human life, many issues we struggle with become clear.  Why do we vacillate? I suspect our eyes are on a mirror, reflecting our needs, rather than focused on the One who has the power to grant or destroy every need ever created.

Oh Lord, hold me tight when I totter! Never let me disdain your firm foundation. Give me wisdom that I might not be double minded, blown about by whatever is expedient or popular. Let me stand on the rock-solid foundation of Christ.

(PS- I'm leaning towards the short hair, at least last night I was. This morning, I'm leaning towards the chin length bob...)

*****************************
James 1: 5-8
⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Isaiah 28:16
16 therefore thus says the Lord God,
 "Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion,
a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
'Whoever believes will not be in haste. '