The Barber

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects.

When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving a God who would allow all of these things."

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt.

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: "You know what? Barbers do not exist."

"How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!"

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."

"Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me."

"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! What happens, is, people don't go to Him and do not look for Him. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Maybe some of you have already heard this story. Even if you have, it’s a good reminder…especially for me.

It’s amazing to think how available God really is to us. He’s right there through the good times when you can rest and relax the day away; and He’s there when you feel like no one else can feel your pain.

Allow me to vent a little...

I was in Yakima this weekend for my monthly National Guard drill. It had to be some of the worst couple of days in my life. It was so miserable and cold. But beyond that, I wasn’t confiding in God through it all. I was so tangled up in frustration that I wasn’t seeking peace with God. I was so bitter that I wasn’t able to find any kind of joy.

Have you ever felt so helpless, that you just want to breakdown?

My father is placed in an Intensive Care Unit at St. Joseph’s hospital. He is recovering from an open heart surgery and my family is worried for his condition. PS: He doesn’t have a relationship with God.

In times of great pain, we all default to one selfish question. “Why?" Have you ever asked yourself, “Why did this have to be this way?” It is very difficult to answer that question for each specific occurrence. But what I can tell you is that God knows what He is doing. Open your ears to allow Him to whisper comfort into your heart. God is watching over ALL of us. And rest assured that when you rest your head to sleep tonight, God is watching over you. 

So in conclusion to my wonderful time of peace…

We all experience suffering. Things can get a bit hairy at times. But my question to you is…”Will you go to the Barber that can and will trim up the mess in your life if you just let Him?”

In His grips,