Going Native

As I stood in the shower, balancing my razor against the weather forecast, my thoughts ran like the water cascading down the shower stall door. If the decision to shave my legs or not to shave my legs depends upon who will actually see them, how does the rest of my life stack up? Humor me by accepting my leg shaving metaphor, understanding that this is not a measure of morality, just an illustration.


If it is going to be cold and rainy, definitely a “pants” day, and I choose not to shave, what does that mean on a deeper level? If I’m not in front of other people, what do I do differently? Do I swear more? Yell at my kids more? Complain or gossip more? All the examples don’t need to be negative. Will I share how God is working in my life in all groups, or do I save that for a select few?

If the group I am with is the benchmark of acceptable, where does truth lie? What I’m pondering right now is the line between who I really am when no one is looking, who you think I am, and who I feel like I should be.

I think the goal that Christ would have for us is that as we decrease in “prickly fuzziness”, He would increase. We would be His witnesses just by being ourselves. When I lived in Germany, only “paid companionship” shaved their legs, and the Americans. Generally, no one had any trouble figuring out which group I fit into. One look, and the casual observer would know I was an American. I hope that with one look today, the casual observer would not have any doubt where I belong.

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is,

His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2).