The sign in front of the barber shop beckoned with the message, “First Time $5.” I’m not sure how many hundred times I have driven by without responding. However, today I was very shaggy and decided to check it out. Sure enough they (two very talkative ladies) only charged me $5 and it is a good haircut. I will go back. My regular barbers (two not so talkative ladies) are going to miss me. I enjoyed the chatter.
Persistent advertising finally got me. When I was a little guy there was a map in our church where someone was keeping track of and marking countries that had been sent a missionary. The inspiration for this was the idea that when the Gospel had gone to the whole world then Jesus would come. What intrigued me was the idea that a single presence or a single event of witnessing meant we could check off an entire country. We were one step closer to the Kingdom. But does a one-time exposure really do the job? I once heard someone say they passed out pamphlets to a neighborhood; therefore, those people had their chance. Come on. Really?
We are talking about something so much more significant than a haircut and it took hundreds of times before I responded. When we are talking about totally changing one’s life we have to realize, while some people will see it right away, it will take multiple years before another person gets it. So, don’t give up. If there is someone you have been praying for keep on praying. If there is a family member who needs to respond, keep on being the kindest, most caring, most self-sacrificing person in their life. Someday it will make a difference.
Written by Roger Bothwell on September 2, 2011
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org