Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Evangelism (11/01/07)
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TITLE: Mixer Blessings | Previous Challenge Entry
By Johnna Stein
11/06/07 -
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When I first tentatively approached this strangely aloof woman at the school playground about a haircut a decade ago, I could never have envisioned the close friendship that God had planned for us both, nor could I imagine that God could use the strangest of circumstances to bond us together. Marion was willing to add our address to her very full list of clients and arrived promptly the next Thursday afternoon with her young son in toe. We were all pleasantly surprised at her excellent styling abilities especially for a “home hairdresser” and decided to become part of her clientele. I received quite a few compliments on my new hairstyle the next morning when dropping the children at school and was delighted to credit Marion with a job well done.
That same morning I found myself trying to create an original birthday cake for my daughter’s sixth birthday party. Our recent move overseas had resulted in replacing all electrical appliances due to different voltages in Europe. My in-laws had adeptly acquired most items second hand for us at reasonable prices, including a very old mixer. As I attached the odd looking beaters to the mixer (I later learned these were kneading beaters!), I had some doubts as to whether this machine would actually be able to beat the egg whites into stiff peaks.
After what seemed an eternity or probably closer to ten minutes, nothing seemed to be thickening in the bowl. With the mixer still on high, I leaned in to have a closer look. Before I realized what was happening, one of my freshly cut locks became entwined by the mixer and the mixer was thrust onto my head. By some kind of amazing reflex I was able to shut the mixer off in a flash. It took me a moment to realize my predicament; I had a mixer stuck to my head! Well, I’d just push the eject button and the pressure would dissipate and I could get on with making the cake. The eject button did click, but I was only able to release one of the beaters which resulted in quite a bit of hair loss. The other remained wound so tightly in my hair that I could scarcely feel the metal of the beater. The mixer was weighing heavy on my head and the pressure was enormous; I needed help.
Immediately, I called my reliable neighbor Irma and could barely get out the words, “Please, help!” In the few moments before her arrival, I was moved to tears by the hilarity and ridiculousness of my situation. How in the world was I going to answer the door with a mixer attached to my head? Before I knew it the doorbell rang and there stood Irma out of breath and in her slippers. She had heard the urgency in my voice on the phone and had rushed over. She tried in vain to free the mixer and concluded we needed further advice. Fortunately, Marion, my new hairstylist was home when we called and responded immediately.
Together they labored more than an hour to salvage as much of my hair and scalp as they could. Marion was relieved to inform me that when the beater had finally been freed, I only had two small bald patches which could easily be camouflaged by my curly hair.
Somehow sharing this strangely intimate experience of trying to free me from the mixer released Marion and me into a relationship where we talked easily about our deepest thoughts. I could naturally share about my faith without feeling I was trying to convert her. For years, I shared about Jesus and how He was my best friend. During these years she asked many probing and difficult questions which seemed to even further solidify our relationship.
After years of investigation, she reached out to Jesus and surrendered her life to Him. Her conversion intensified our friendship and since then, she has become one of the richest blessings in my life.
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