It's Time to Look Like a Pastor

When our family first came to Guatemala nearly three years ago, I sat at an outdoor bistro with Kellie and the kids in Antigua. Two young Guatemalan men approached us and one of them said, "You look like a pastor." I sat there with earrings in my ears and tattoos on my arms, thinking, "I do not look like a pastor!"

He explained to my perplexed face that we had met on Facebook and we'd been friends for some time. He and I laugh even to this day each time we see each other... about the day he startled me in Antigua.

As our mission gains further clarity and direction, I find myself frequently serving as a pastor not only for Journey Church, but also in uniting rural pastors and in the leading of mission teams. This week I realized both through experience and through discussion with trusted brothers that in order to reach the culture... I need to physically reflect the culture. 

And so... let the Chapin make-over commence. The earrings are locked away for US visits, and the attire of a pastor replaces shorts, t-shirts, and the flare of a bow-tie. Khaki pants, button up shirts, even suits on Sunday will be a more frequent choice in my wardrobe. 

But... it has to be more than clothes. I've noticed lately that my growing beard seemed to freak out the villages. Children would tug on it and call me a goat. It's hard to spread the message of Christ if people think I'm a goat-man, a bum, or a gang-member.

So... here's my quick transformation today that freaked out my kids, made Sophie our intern scream, and caused our guard to refuse me entry to our own property... because he did not recognize me. 

Guate-style.

"People will stare, make it worth their while."

"Mr. Shepherd, why does your face hair grow faster than the hair on top of your head?"

"Mr. Shepherd, when are you going to grow your hair back?"

"Mr. Shepherd, why do you like to have no hair?"

Many of the students at CAS are perplexed when they contemplate my slick pate. While many of them have grandpas or father's with unfortunate hair patterns, they had not observed anyone who voluntarily shed their locks.

I knew from past experience that if I kept it consistent, the shock and novelty would soon give way to normalcy. For the most part this is true. This past week I encountered a mission partner who hadn't seen me for several months, and he was a bit surprised. It took me a few moments to understand why he looked so unnerved... until he uttered slowly, "uh... your hair."

I thought surely I'd heard all likely responses, but this week I encountered something entirely new. I walked into a 10th Grade English class to find everyone say... look at Jimmy. I glanced over at Jimmy to see that he had a black scarf wrapped around his head. Jimmy is always doing funny things, and so I just said... "nice scarf, Jimmy" and then turned away. The class immediately began urging me to look back at Jimmy.

I turned as he unwound the scarf from his bald head! He said, "Now I look like you, Mr. Shepherd." He reached out his arms and said... "Hug me?" What was I to do? I walked over and I leaned into his hug. He immediately reached up and rubbed my head, saying, "Papa."

This was awkward! The class erupted with laughter as I nearly collapsed with the hilarity of the moment. Jimmy surprised me! I never in a million years expected any of the kids to copy my non-traditional hair-did.

I arrived the next morning to find that two of his friends had joined him. They informed me that there was a method: my head was shaved with a razor, so it was a zero. Jimmy had used a 1 guard, Javier a 2, and Esteban used a 3. We were the perfect sequence of head shavedness!

Since Wednesday, each day has greeted me with at least one more student with a shaved or tightly clipped head. I'm not quite sure what I think about this... but it is a unique phenomenon to say the least! I've never been a trend setter, and I certainly didn't set out with that intention when I decided to live life as a bald man again. 

The owner of the school asked me if I'd noticed that students were shaving their heads, and did I know why? I thought I was about to be fired as I answered, "yes, I've noticed. Jimmy started it, saying he looked like me." She cracked up laughing and it seems I'll keep my position.

Torres, after showing me his bald head yesterday, told me, "You know, it feels really good. Especially when you do this!" (He proceeded to pour a little water from his water bottle, and rub it on his head). Yes! Indeed! This is quite refreshing! 

So... if you're in the neighborhood and you see a group of close cropped young men, please do not be afraid. They're not a gang, they're not neo-nazis, and they don't all have cancer. 

They're just under my influence. 

Pray for me?

Quote attributed to Harry Winston

How to Shear a Shepherd: a Cut for a Cause.

How do you motivate 100 teenagers on a primitive camping excursion? What prize do you offer to offset their loss of wifi, running water, electricity, and your demand that they focus spiritually on becoming holy like God is holy?

Our logo for Christian American School Spiritual Retreat 2015 

The challenge was being issued to live an "unblemished" life in pursuit of the knowledge of God. The reality was that I needed clean cabins, a respected schedule, and behavior and libido kept beneath the threat of chaos.

My budget was limited, my resources finite, and the thought struck me... while on the two-busses full of teenagers, on their way to camp ride, as I stood in the open door of bus one... "I didn't  prepare any prize for the winning team."

The sun was beating down and my hair was hot and in my eyes. It occurred to me that I'd like to have it short again. My hair. MY HAIR. Of course! Balancing on the bouncing step as the bus swerved through morning traffic, I pulled the phone from my pocket and texted Kellie,

Good morning Chica. Sorry I growled at you this morning. I have a lost perpespective when I wake. I am considering allowing the winning team to cut my hair. Would this be upsetting?

Her immediate response:

 On the contrary. (smiley) Not at all. Praying for your time.

I had an official green light from my wife (a little more enthusiastic than I liked), and now I just needed to keep the nerve. I decided I wouldn't tell anyone until I announced it to everyone. This allowed me some time to chicken out. 

After all, growing my hair to this length had been an 18 month trial of growing through all sort of awkward lengths. Now it was finally where I wanted it, I could tuck it behind my ears and even tie it back. I knew it looked a bit crazy, but I'd had some fun with it.

Hat Day

Crazy Hair Day

Trying to look like Legolas

Just looking like a freak

Looking like a KISS fan

Looking like a popcorn salesman

Looking like Billy Ray Cyrus (don't tell my heart)

Looking like... I want to be back there right now!

Still trying to be Legolas...

Well... I guess I just looked like plain 'ol me.

We arrived at the camp and it was up to me to describe the rules, the games, and the incentive. My associate, the Academic Director had asked me what I planned to give the winner and I had said, "It's a secret. Just trust me." So now it was pay-off time. I told the kids, "I have a prize for the winner, and I think it's one that will be worth your effort."

I told them the winning grade level would select a single student who would be given a pair of scissors, and then that student would be free to cut my hair any way he or she wanted. The response was immediate, loud, and everything I hoped for. The incentive had been delivered and the game was on!

24 hours later I stood sweating and nervous on a stage with the results in my hand. I had not expected to be emotional. But, I had made a promise and I was determined not to back down. These kids had met the expectation and now I was going to give them a memory of a lifetime.

Fabrizio of the winning 8th Grade Class stood over me, shears in hand while the room was silent in anticipation. I realized that everyone expected me to revoke the offer. No one there believed that I would allow a student to cut my hair. I had a microphone in my hand and I said, "do it." 

He said, "no, are you serious?" I said, "yes, just do it." He said, "no Mr. Shepherd, I can't. You're not serious." I said, "yes, you might as well start big, go for the back."

He gathered up the longest portion of the back, held the scissors in place and paused, "are you SURE Mr. Shepherd?" My response... "CUT IT."

I felt the scissors slowly going through the tail, crunching through the individual hairs. The scissors snapped shut and I saw the hair hit the floor. The room was DEAD SILENT. The front row of the auditorium held the 9th and 10th grade girls. I looked out at them... they all had hand-covered open-mouthed faces of shock. 

I realized that I had maybe gone too far?

The school owner was staring at me big-eyed... even our head of security was there with a look of disbelief. Time seemed suspended! Fabrizio leaned down and said, "Mr. Shepherd... I am so sorry."

We had crossed the threshold of no return... and I said, "keep cutting it brother". I could feel my face red, every eye on me, I had not intended to SHOCK them all. I had envisioned this as a moment of cheers! I asked for music to be played as the barbering continued... finally the students began to relax as they saw that I really was agreeable to the cut.

Tensions eased as the hair accumulated. The students began to find it humorous as my lopsided and jagged haircut finally was completed. Feeling like a recently shorn dog, I put on my bigger feeling hat, and walked off the stage. The retreat was over, I had my new-do, and the kids had a camp memory they'd not soon forget.

Only one hurdle remained... I needed to tell my mom before it hit social media!

I need to give you advance warning that I no longer look quite so Jesus-like. While part of me enjoyed long hair, and would like to grow it much longer, it was time-consuming, sometimes irritating and hot, and did draw its share of criticism. While it seems that folks like to fuss at my hair whether long, short, or none... it occurs to me that I am the one wearing it, and I prefer it tightly shorn. Especially due to the extremely busy nature of life in this season. And so... I used it as a student incentive at our retreat this past week. The winning team of campers... was handed a pair of scissors and allowed to "cut my hair anyway you want."

This proved very effective in generating competition. The eigth grade class won, and made a mess of my hair, and even carved a smiley face in the back. This would have been horrendous, except that I knew my final intentions, and went home last night and promply clipped the remainder down to consistency with a no-guard trimmer. So... it's not considered "bald," but it is nearly so (my head is cold). After you have read this an emotionally absorbed the shock, let me know and I'll send you photos. I plan to blog about all this, but I figured I owe my mama and papa advance notice. Another funny thing is that my co-worker bragged that he'd do it too... but it seems he did not think I was serious about it. Ha! He doesn't know me as well as he thought!

That was a few hours ago. I'm not sure if she's seen my message or not. So... momma, friends, and the rest of you, I'm saying goodbye to hairspray and back to sunscreen. So you're not shocked when you see me out and about... here's the new me. P.S. my head is COLD!

(Man... my nose is getting BIG.)

Here, There, or SomeHAIR in Guatemala

12 months of hair growth

Starting from scratch, last fall.

I wore my head bald for 30 months and have been re-growing it now for 12. This means that I haven't had a haircut for three and a half years. At least, not a scissor cut. 

The first couple of months weren't all that difficult, I could purchase a local hair-slick product down here called, "Monkey Snot" and make it look intentionally spiked or tightly smoothed down. But then came the awkward months.

My hair is very fine and has a tendency to stick straight up like bristles on a wire brush. When it was around 2-3 inches long, this was very un-cool. I would paste it down with Monkey Snot and sneak some of Kellie's hairspray in an attempt to tame my blow-fish look, but by lunchtime I was in full chia pet stage.

Soon after it this was the sideburn stage. The hair in front of my ears was ridiculously long and untrimmed, but not long enough to tuck behind my ears. This gave me the appearance of a short cropped girl with a really bad haircut. The students I worked with took great joy in telling me I was a chica. When I tried to explain that I was growing it long enough to put behind my ears they would click their tongues, shake their heads, and say, "Nah. You need a haircut."

Thankfully, over the summer months it finally became long enough to stay behind the ears with a little product help (thanks Shawn & Kayci Roh). This past week I was preaching to the senior high students in chapel when I was suddenly asked if I could "turn around." When I turned back, the students told me that I looked like Brad Pitt... "from behind!" Weirdest comment I've ever received.

So, I'm not sure why I started this series on the blog about my hair, but it inexplicably is my most read series ever. I'm not really happy about that. I suppose it is interesting to see a man go bald and then go long-hair? Honestly I don't know too many who have done this.

For whatever reason, I seem to like the addition of a bow-tie with the extra hair. I learned how to make a bow-tie out of a regular tie, and so now I wear nothing but the bows. I feel like I need a six-shooter on my hip, but Guatemala frowns on foreigners with guns.

And so here I am, some-hair in Guatemala, you know... that preacher with the long hair and earrings. Oddly, God has blessed our work, and we are thankful to be taking these steps of obedience. The student ministry is exploding, our church is growing, we're successfully booking short term mission teams for 2015, and we're kicking off a new internship program as well.

Somehair in Guatemala... who knew?

HAIR in GUATEMALA

Bald is no more. It is time for something new. I never have appreciated half measures. This should come as no surprise to those who know me, or even to those who have observed me from a safe distance.

I lived life as a bald man for 30 months. Overall it was quite the positive experience. I felt distinguished, I felt bold, I felt unique. Somehow it helped me face giants during a difficult time in life. I tip my hat to the bald. You rock.

This time in life calls for a new adventure in hair. Having experienced life as a bald man in society, now I embark on a mission to live life long. I was first inspired by this man… 

Cullen Bohannon, lead character on AME's Hell On Wheels.

"What you suppose the Lord's gonna think about a man like me?"

After all… he wears a hat and I love the grit and tenacity of his character. I love that he lives by his beliefs and he lives by them no matter how great the challenge. He inspires me.

Realistically, I will never have the wavy flowing mane which Mr. Bohannon frontiers through the west. Mine is very straight, unapologetically so. I have spent most of my life despising it's stubborn straightness. Now the time has come for me to embrace it.

It seems that long hair has been done well recently though. While I know my mug is a far cry from this gent, he does give me a path (and I also respect the sunglasses).

Besides, bald gets your head sunburned a lot. I live in Guatemala now. I figure it is natural sunblock.

It's gonna take a while. From the starting point of bald, I've been growing it since the beginning of September. Progress so far… about 1.5 inches (or 3mm).

Hair we go!

GUATEMALA 2011: (35) A Reason for Baldness

No... I did not lose a bet.

 And, No... I am not sick.

There are still people who are encountering my naked head for the first time, even though I have chosen this look for over a month now. There are those who simply don't comment, those who react politely, and those who blurt out a response (I respect the blurters).

No matter what the initial reaction, the question always comes down to a basic, "why?" Three folks have asked me if I lost a bet, and one well-intentioned lady actually asked if I was sick. I must confess... I only allowed her to believe I was for a few brief seconds (served her right).

I have been able to walk up to people I have known for years and even stand in front of them without being recognized. All in all... it has simply been good fun. But, I must tell you (now that I feel confident enough) that it was done for a purpose. 

What can $30 a month do for you? For me... it meant a haircut and an eyebrow wax. Yep... that is right, confession time. I have genetically absolutely crazy & bushy eyebrows. They will grow without stopping. I have measured them at over 3" in length... no joke. They will grow to the middle and form a Muppet Burt Unibrow. And I had the buggers hot waxed once a month. You want my man card? Meet me at the gym.

We have sponsored a young lady at Mimi's House with Catalyst Resources International in Guatemala for over a year now. Through Facebook we learned a couple of months ago that they had gone from 6 girls to 10... overnight. They needed sponsorships desperately and immediately. Kellie and I immediately shifted some money to cover one more. We wanted to do more... but it simply wasn't in the budget.

And so... I decided that something had to give. I considered buzzing my hair... but wasn't sure what to do about the Burt-brows. I figured... well, let's make the commitment, try the hair... and we'll just take the rest a day at a time.

I committed to sponsor a third girl. I made an appointment with my hair guy, and shocked him when I told him to buzz it down. He started with the largest guard, and I told him to go smaller. After three descending blades we settled with a four and I walked out of the shop... along with my newly waxed (and very red) brows.

I went home and after 3 days I took it down to a 3. After a week, I cut it down to a 1. A week later... off came the guard and I clipped it smooth. Over the past 6 weeks I have experimented with various shavers, razors, clippers, and trimmers... and I have discovered how to keep my unibrow in tight maintenance (also some advice from Men's Vogue & Esquire online).

The third sponsor is now a part of our budget... along with the purchase of a couple of warm hats.

And... as a bonus, I get to tell folks about how the cost of a haircut (I leave out the brow part) can help house, feed, clothe, educate, and provide a future to a beautiful life that once had no hope and very little chance. I get to tell the stories of the girls I have played soccer with, and shared jokes with (en tu cara!). 

I get to tell them how a forever difference is made that will last generations.

The haircut... well, honestly I like it. Low maintenance, hats don't mess it up, I can ride with the windows down, it looks cool with dark sunglasses, and it feels kinda cool to rub. 

And oh yeah... I don't have to hide out while the swelling in my eyebrows subsides anymore either (that was always a bit humiliating).

So... what is your story? What are you willing to eliminate to change a life? Please don't just pass by the other side on this one. I can tell you from personal experience... if you are searching for something real... something true... something that just feels right...

Give this a chance.

                                         http://www.catalystresources.net/

                      P.S. I have the clippers charged and ready to go.

Reflections From A (nearly) Bald Head

Ok, so I am no Tom Cruise. I get that... and well, he has been a little cracked over the past few years anyway so I think I am good with that. One of my wife's students last year looked at my photo and said I look like Billy Bob Thornton. I never have been able to work that one out.

Over the years people have often tried to tell me who I look like. For a while I had longer hair down to my cheekbones and I was laughed at and compared to Jack Sparrow. About 11 years ago I had a very short spikey do, with corrective glasses, and a neatly trimmed mustache. At that time I was referred to as, "Chucky's Dad" from the Nickelodeon Series... Rug Rats.

So I suppose that I am some combination of the three. I think I am ok with that. One part crazy, one part dork, and one part pirate. Yeah... sounds about right. And of course my love of hats often gets me compared with other folks. One in particular...

On this one I must protest... our hats are not the same style. Mine is a basic Minetonka Leather Roll Up hat. His is a Classic brown Stetson Fedora.

Mine costs about $40 in any rugged outfitter store. His will run you $64.95 on the Fedora Website.

As you can see...the nut does not fall far from the tree.  I will confess that my love for this hat originated with Indiana Jones (we own the entire box set) and I have dutifully transferred this love on to my son, who was Indiana Jones this past Halloween. He has his own authentic leather hat on, and my father's Harley Davidson jacket.

And so... here I am with my newly not-so-coiffed hair, waiting to see who I am compared to now. I figure Billy Bob Thornton might come up again... in the character of Sling-Blade. Uhmmm-huh. And, I apologize to those of you who are not fans of my new look... and I must also smile and ask you to try to get used to it.


Because I like it. And I am the one wearing it.

I reckon I like it. Uhmmm-huh.



"You got any Mustard?"