Can we talk shampoo today? Yes – shampoo. I know. Very Spiritual. But if you have been around much, you know this could go so many directions, so hang with me.
It was Tuesday morning and it was time to wash my hair. I turned the sink faucet on and put my head under the water thinking to myself, “Ugh. I really hate this shampoo I’m using.” Yes, I was grumbling about the shampoo I was using to wash my hair. You see, a few months back, I went on an expedition to find a new shampoo. I’m not really sure what happens when a woman turns 41, but my hair has just not been the same. Over the course of a few months, I had tried shampoo after shampoo. So, after no luck finding one I liked, I went to the reliable Facebook Friends for some recommendations. Goodness, they came through like a champ. I had many recommendations. I made my list and journeyed off to Ulta to see what I would try first. I found a sample bottle of Paul Mitchell’s Awaphuni shampoo and conditioner. Can I just say I fell in love with this product! It was the first one I tried, and I needed to go no further in my list. I was sold. I used the samples until the bottles were bone dry; loving the way my hair was responding to the product. Then… I ran out… Yes. I know. Tragedy had struck. Now, normally this is not a big deal. Really it shouldn’t ever be. But in this case, I had a ‘convenience’ problem. You see, I don’t go to the mall often – which is where our Ulta store is located. In fact, I am really not on that side of town very often. So, it was very much out of my way to go get more shampoo and conditioner. I rationalized and justified to myself that I would just find something similar and ‘it would be FINE.’ Well, it hasn’t been. I have tried 3 other shampoos since. Simply out of convenience. And now, here I was Tuesday morning, grumbling to myself about this third new shampoo I was trying.
Have you ever done this? Have you ever sacrificed quality and “results” on the altar of convenience? As I washed my hair I was convicted about how often I do this in my own life. I KNOW what works, what I need to do for ME, yet I just don’t do it. Maybe it’s drinking enough water, or what we eat, or where we choose to shop. Or, dare I say, in our time with God!! Why?!?! Why do we (I) do this? Convenience has become this sexy service that is sold to us as a way of life. We talk often about doing things because “it’s convenient”. What are missing when we do? Why do we feel so drawn to convenience? Is it our busy schedules? Our lack of planning? Our selfish desires for instant gratification?
As I finished washing my hair, I said a quick prayer of apology to my God. I don’t ever want to sacrifice the BEST things in my life, or any thing in my life, on the altar of convenience.
A Girl and Her God 