We saw a video this morning and the joke is on whoever posted it because we were already plan on crying our eyes out today anyways... haha.

A sweet older woman was in a barbershop, getting her head shaved.. that isn't exactly our typical algorithm fed video but it almost felt dishonoring to swipe away... Assuming she was doing that because she has cancer and was getting rid of her hair before chemo takes it anyway.

And while she is sitting there, the barber starts shaving his own head.
Then a customer in the shop steps up. “Shave mine.”
Then another barber takes his hat off like, alright, me too.

And with every person who does it, you watch her face change. She gets more emotional, but it is not just sadness.. it was like she went through the 5 stages of grief in that moment.

It was hard to watch someone seem so broken and helpless in a moment like that.
It was redeeming to watch others sit with her. 

While her body may not have been healed in that moment, her spirit surely was. 

The computer screen is getting blurry even typing all of this, and sorry to seem overly emotional, but maybe we need a perspective shift. Something to shake us up from the day to day, normal routine, same ole same ole.

Something to remind us that as much as we wish we hardships, setbacks, barriers, rejection, & pain weren't a thing..
'a thing' that so many of us spend our entire focus on avoiding or running from.. 

that there is something more powerful than what we are going through. There is the opportunity to feel hope in the hopeless.
Helped when helpless.
Joy through the tears.
Seen when lost.
Close when isolated.

These people weren't trying to fix her but they were doing what scripture calls us to do.."weep with those who weep" Romans 12:15

We all go through hardships.. some greater than others but we all go through it. And as much as we pray those situations away, we can't help but wonder if experiencing His perfect love inside of imperfect situations is just as, if not more special than everything just being perfect all the time... who knows.

But right now, seeing Him inside of hardships means a heck of a lot more than avoiding situations where we would need His love. 

We will stop being all sappy after this: If you are the one hurting, let someone sit with you. Even if it feels uncomfortable. Even if you feel like a burden. Even if it costs the person something... like shaving their head. 

And if you know someone who is hurting, you do not have to fix it. You do not have to have the right words. You can just show up and sit down with them. You can metaphorically shave your head too.

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