"When your hair reaches your heart"

You know how some conversations stick with you, even if they took place a lifetime ago? Well, this is one of them. I was part of a Christian youth organization called YWAM and spent 6 months with them when I was about 18. I was picked up at the airport by a long-haired guy named Ed. I remember Ed telling us that one of the rules for the guys was that long hair was ok unless it "reached their heart". This meant both in the length of the hair as well as the importance or principle of it. How important was their long hair? What did it stand for? Was it a matter of rights? A matter of rebellion or making a statement? Or, just a matter of style and preference? How important was their long hair?

We can apply this principle to many other areas of our lives. Are we clinging to something out of pride, selfishness, rights? Are we hurting someone over something we are holding onto, or offending someone else? Is it really worth it? Have we gotten off center, even a tiny bit? It doesn't take much.

There's a lot of issues involved here. It's not really about the length of someone's hair! This involves submission to the stated rules. Submission and respect to those in authority over you. Without rules and guidelines, without a chain of authority, there is chaos and confusion. There is safety, peace, and order in defined expectations. There is safety in submission. Think of it as standing under a protective covering. Ed was standing under the protective covering of the guidelines. (He eventually did cut his hair) His hair did not define him.

I'm just wondering what we are holding onto. Are there things in our lives that maybe a spouse would like us to give up or cut out of our lives? I'm not talking about black & white sins, but other things. Rights we are demanding. Maybe it's an activity that we don't want to give up. Maybe it's a type of music, movies, books, or a place we like to go to that our spouse is upset about. We think he's being too controlling. Is it that important to us? Has "it" reached our heart? Maybe, just maybe the Lord is using your spouse to speak to you about this! All life is a test. The Lord tests us so we will know what's in our own hearts.

The Word of God is like a soul mirror. When we prayerfully read it, the Holy Spirit shows us either how we are aligning our lives to it, or how we have drifted. The Holy Spirit also uses others to point out our straying from the path. Just as quick and easy it is to get off center, it's takes no time at all to get back on track.

I could keep going but I think I made my point. What's in your heart?