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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Vanity (11/15/18)
At 19 ½ she enrolled in the school. For the next year, 40 hours a week of study and practice would be required. She waited tables at night. Just before her 21st birthday she graduated and applied for a job as a stylist in her city’s top salon and got it. Just after her 21st birthday, she experienced a dramatic encounter with the Lord that changed everything. Immediately began an inner clash between her new citizenship in God’s Kingdom and the vainglorious industry she'd just entered.



Over time she became very good at making both herself and others to appear more beautiful by the world’s standards. Focus on the outward appearance was absolutely required of her. Hair, skin, nails, clothing - all of it had to be perfect. If only she could just read and write and study! But there were groceries to buy and bills to pay.



So she kept a stack of reading and writing materials inside her station drawer. Some days there was no time for it, but she secretly welcomed a rescheduled appointment or cancellation (Don't tell anyone!) because it meant an open space on the appointment book so she could enter the library in her drawer. The other stylists usually chattered about fashion and jewelry and hair trends and body shapes and makeup. She never fully fit in with the salon crowd.



She did love the people though. For some, no hands ever touched them except for hers. She prayed for them as she washed their hair. Often she had an opportunity to minister the love or grace or wisdom of God to a heart or mind as she polished their outward appearance. And sometimes the Lord would send a “client” to minister to her. The Lord could place anyone He liked in her chair for whatever His purposes.



36 years and many thousands of cuts and colors later, she is still standing behind a salon chair. She has read, studied and written portions of many books while at work. She is also close to a lot of wonderful people with whom she’s been privileged to spend 2 or more hours every 4 to 6 weeks for many years.



She has a thousand stories and ten thousand examples of dialogue gleaned from actual conversations with people from nearly every culture, religion, profession, vocation, trade, social class, age and part of town; People with an innumerable variety of worldviews, personalities, dispositions, strengths and weaknesses. She’s got the inside scoop on every restaurant, church, school, University, Government agency, travel agency, vacation spot, neighborhood, law office, orphanage, hospital, doctor…on and on.



She knows others in ways no one else knows them and knows things about them that no one else knows. She prays that she’s influenced many towards the Truth of the Gospel and asks the Lord to forgive her for any words she has spoken that have hurt or caused another to stumble, and prays that He would bless and provide for each one in all their individual needs.



She still struggles with the vanity of this “beauty business” and she still longs to just write. But after standing before a salon mirror for so long, she now looks in the rearview mirror and realizes that the Lord set it all up so she could read and study and write, and also place her hands on those whom no one touches.



Our Lord says “All things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22) If all things means ‘ALL’ things, then she asks you to believe with her that the Lord would draw every single person she has ever touched to Himself, by the power of His Holy Spirit, and to comfort, heal and save to the utmost each one. And that the Lord would credit these souls to YOUR account when we all stand before Him. In Jesus name, Amen.



I am she. Can I get an Amen?



Ecclesiastes 3:11



He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
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This article has been read 386 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Larry Whittington
11/22/18
A pleasant life story, well told.

Another verse that might fit is: "All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called for his purpose. It seems you fit in with your story.
Tom Show
11/23/18
Nicely done! Makes a point, supports with scripture and could lead a nonbeliever to seek out Christ.
Jennifer Hill
11/23/18
Interesting look into the life of a Christian stylist. Inspiring.
Claudia Barrington
11/24/18
What if everyone who posted in Challenge entries also commented on/critiqued at least three others? I'm shocked that so many post, and so few read and post a review for others. It seems only a few people have the courtesy to critique but would like the critiques on their own. I am new here, and originally was excited about this site. If you are one who DOES regularly read and comment on others work, then may the Lord bless you mightily and publish you quickly.
LaVonne Wood
11/25/18
My sister had the same problem not fitting in when she worked at a salon, so she started her own salon her small town. She also would pray for those who were her customers.

Enjoyed your story. It is ok to look good, just not be obsessed with appearances. Keep up the good work.
Annette Griffin 
11/25/18
VERY well written! It's so inspiring and God honoring to declare His good works and see them played out in someone's life through their testimony.
Linda Lawrence
11/25/18
A great example of doing your work heartily for the Lord. Therefore I'd like to see this as a story, minus the exhortation. You are doing a good job of exhorting just by your inspiring examples.

Remember to always spell out a number when it begins a sentence. Adding the 1/2 to the beginning sentence seems awkward and unnecessary to me. Better without it.

But be encouraged. This is a worthwhile piece.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
11/28/18
This is a great perspective. I was pulled in by the character right away. I'm not sure you need the first paragraph. Instead, you could sprinkle some of the back story throughout. I'd also suggest you name your character. I know at the end you say she is me, but even so, giving her a name might help the reader connect more (or use the first person). You do more telling than showing. Instead, I'd urge you to use dialog, body language, and thoughts to paint a picture. For example, I might do something like this: Chloe stood behind her client and gently massaged her scalp. As she squirted sweet-smelling conditioner in her hand, she began to pray for Mrs. Smith. She pictured God's love flowing through her hands as she worked on her patron's hair. <i> Dear Jesus, Thank you for Mrs. Smith. She's quite a sweet lady. She's blessed me by her cheery smile. I so enjoy chatting with her. She seems to enjoy hearing about what book I'm reading." Chloe glanced to her station's drawer where she kept her books and journa. She couldn't seem to quench her thirst to learn and to write. Smiling, she dried off Mrs. Smith's hair."How is your cat doing?" When she spotted the lady frowning, she continued her prayer. <i>Bless Fluffy, God. Her cat helps her feel needed. Please provide her with the answers she needs to take care of Fluffy. </i> (the brackets and i will indicate thoughts and show up as italics.)
I know I took it in a different direction, but wanted to show how you can paint a picture for the reader and let the reader see that "Chloe" has a relationship with God. Instead of telling about the struggle between making people beautiful, you can show what she is like.
The idea of praying for her clients is brilliant. It's great advice for anyone who works with the public. In my car, I'll often pray for the people in the next car. This is a great message. The idea of placing hands on people is powerful too. It makes me sad to realize that some receive almost no skin to skin contact. It's a wonderful blessing indeed.
I wasn't surprised at the she was me line. I felt like this came from the heart of someone special. I'm sure it's just my personal preference, but I winced a tiny bit at the line Can I get an amen? To me it felt like the MC was seeking praise. I'm sure that wasn't your intention, or maybe it was because it made me stop and think. Even when we think we are firmly on God's path, we are still human and we all have a bit of vanity--a bit of a desire for a pat on the back. Whenever an article makes me stop and think like that, the author has done a great job. I liked the Bible verses you chose,. They fit the story. I can feel your passion and desire to share God's love with others. I also liked your unique take on the topic. Good job.