Bad Hair Day

The other day, I officially got the worst haircut of my life.  I was persuaded to let a certain person cut my hair.  Not known to me until after the fact was that it was his first time cutting anyone's hair, but that's besides the point.  In the midst of the noise of the clippers and my hair flying everywhere, the one cutting my hair was busy telling me how good my hair was looking and was going to look. 

I must say, I was pretty excited to check out my new hair-do.  I was convinced that my hair looked good.  Then came the moment to look in the mirror and see how it was.  That was when reality hit, and I suppose I looked something like the picture to the right.  It was only when I stepped back and took a look at myself that I realized my hair needed to change.  And quick!

Our lives are the same way.  We often go through life taking everyone's word for whatever it may be.  But occasionally we need to stop and examine our self.  We need to step back, take a look in the mirror, and see what needs corrected.  Sometimes the realization, such as in my case, can be quite shocking.  We must do whatever we need to in order to fix the problem.  We all make mistakes, but as long as we come back, we will be openly welcomed.  "...There is joy in the presence of angles of God over one sinner that repenteth."  (Luke 15:10).

Life'style'

As a missionary, we don't get too many choices on what colors to wear.  I could wear a black, gray or navy blue suit, but still it doesn't make too much of a difference.  There is, however, one article of clothing that gives us a little more variety.  They are ties.  Ties, to missionaries, are more than just a piece of fabric tied in a particular way around your neck.  Ties express you're mood for the day and, in essence, who you are.

Anyone that knows me well could tell you that my taste in ties is quite unique.  I like the short, fat, and ugly ties.  It's just my style.  We'll call them 'vintage' ties.  When someone sees a 'vintage' tie, they say to themselves, "That's totally something Elder Greco would wear."  I've just developed that kind of reputation.  Whether for good or for bad.

Our choices are a lot like our taste in ties.  We'll call them our life'style'.  Just like ties, our life'style' is one of the first things people see.  As they see more of our choices, we will develop a reputation, whether for good or for bad.  When someone sees our life'style', what will they say?  What will they compare it to?  If our life'style' isn't what we want people to see us as, then we can repent and change.  May we all live in a way that when people see our life'style', they will say with conviction, "That's totally something the Savior would do."