Shampoo Slumber

If you’ve never gotten a haircut in Asia, I highly recommend it.  Primarily because most all hair cuts include an extensive scalp massage.  I’m not talking about a violent scrubbing, although I’ve experienced that once or twice as well. No, I’m talking about a deeply relaxing scalp massage. The kind that drains the tension and stress right out of you. 

Recently, I went in for my usual haircut. They took me back to the washing stations where they began washing my hair, followed by the luxurious scalp massage. As I began to relax, I closed my eyes and started to feel the tension drain right out of me. But in a few minutes, I heard something that alerted me. Someone is snoring! Oh no, how embarrassing…Wait, is it me? No it can’t be, I just opened my eyes! Phew! Humiliation was averted when I realized it was the woman next to me. She had succumbed to the shampoo slumber. 

I grinned, but began to wonder…Should I rescue her from this social faux pas and wake her somehow? Should I cough, or start talking loudly? Not knowing what to do, I did nothing, and was soon taken to the chair for my cut. Amazingly, she remained asleep at the shampoo station the entire duration of my appointment. No one woke her.

Although sleeping is normal (we all do it), there are definitely times when it’s not a good idea.  Like, falling asleep on the passenger sitting next to you on the plane (I hate when that happens), or when someone is trying to share their heart with you (even when it’s super late at night), or during a sermon (even when you haven’t had your morning cuppa), and especially never, ever when you’re driving! Yikes!

The incident at the hair salon reminded me of an old Keith Green song, “Asleep in the Light”. If you don’t know it, it’s worth a listen.  Here’s some of the words that always get to me:

The world is sleeping in the dark

That the church just can’t fight

‘Cause it’s asleep in the light

How can you be so dead

When you’ve been so well fed?

I begin to wonder, Is that me, Lord? Am I asleep in the light?  Am I too comfortable? Am I in danger of being lulled to sleep?  As I look at the world around me right now, clearly, it’s not the time to be in a spiritual snooze.

Oh Lord, open our eyes and help us to see what the prophet Joel saw:

“Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” Joel 3:14 NKJV