After spending four years at Jesuit college, I ended up being one of two non-Catholics–me and one young Jewish boy.  And, yes, I got saved at a Catholic college.  God certainly has a sense of humor.  While at college, I was one those unfortunate young men who began to follow my grandfather’s pattern baldness.  Hence, the phrase, “hair today, gone tomorrow.”  So when I married my wife one week after graduating, I was already tinning out on the top.

I know in the greater scheme of things that baldness in not a major concern.  And, since my wife didn’t seem to mind, neither did I.  After all, if  30 the very hairs of your head are all numbered, (Matthew 10:30) then His job just got that much easier.  After all, hair today; gone tomorrow.

Within a few years, my wife and I began to lead a youth group of middle and high school-age kids.  We had been working with the younger children’s church group for a couple of years, but our passion was for the older kids.  Since we were not that far out of college, our group members were not that much younger that we were.  And each and every male member of the group took great joy in pointing out my thinning hair.  I didn’t really mind the teasing, but I did warn each of them that some day they might find themselves facing the same situation.

Then I got to thinking about the rest of those verses from Matthew.  28 Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  31 So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:28-31)

God cared so much for every living thing that He created that even a tiny sparrow is not below His attention.  So, too, the hairs on our head.  So, when we make our plans, state or intentions, and make our decisions. 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”…( James 4:13:15)  Because God has said , 11 For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.  So, don’t  be afraid in what you attempt.  As long as God is doing the planning, the vapor that is your existence will be important in God’s eyes and will do good for those around you.

So, whether we are a sparrow, a falling hair, or simply a vapor.  God has a plan for each of us.  We just have to listen, so He can tell us what it is and how to accomplish it.   And by the way,  I got my revenge on those young men who teased me about my baldness.  First, my baldness never increased.  It’s at about the same stage as it was when I was in college.  Second, almost without exception each of those teasers have all become more bald than me.  So I guess what goes around, comes around.  Now they can say to their kids, “Hair today; gone tomorrow.”