Michael Nguyen SVD
Being Indigenized as the Logos – 3
But (the truth is always revealed its real face after the word, “but”), but there is still single item that I fail to be inculturated: the thick humidity of the nation of the ten thousand and one islands. If you’d like to rebuke me that I am a fastidious missionary, still I honestly confess that I haven’t get used to the thick humidity in the air of the Philippines. The scorching heat in Central Australia never has a single chance to hinder my mission steps, for the heat in this desert is a dried heat. But the Philippines is surrounded with oceans, the thick humidity sometimes wears me down. The level of humidity I read on the smartphone (whether it is in the morning, or at noon, or in the evening) is varied between 90% to 100%. Bingo! I always perspire. My hair is always wet just as if I get out of a muddy pond. Perhaps, due to my suffering with the humidity, heaven then opens the gates, shedding new light on my mind.
I finally receive a prescription to deal with the humidity. Hence, on that morning, I took a jeepney to a barber shop. After I sat down on the chair, the barber covered me with a white piece of cloth and asked,
– Sir, what level do you want to cut your hair? Level 3? Level 2?
I at once answered with a clear voice,
– Level 0, po!
The barber was obviously surprised. He asked,
– I hope I am not mistaken. Did you say level 0, didn’t you?
I nodded my head,
– Yes, you are right! Level 0.
The barber couldn’t help himself but had a comment on my hair,
– Sir, I see you have a very fine hair. Why do you want to shave all hair?
I finally confessed,
– Well! I cannot put up with the humidity anymore!
That’s it. One by one my hair was falling down, whitening a small area of the floor. About 15’ later, not a single hair of mine was left on the head. Looking at my head through the mirror, I noticed that with a hairless face, I look more like a mendicant monk! From that day on, my life suddenly became simple, the simplicity that I myself never experienced. In the morning, it took me only 5’ for taking a shower, then attending the Eucharist, eating breakfast, and going to classes. I threw the comb and the mirror away to the corner of my room. I no longer stood in front of the mirror to comb my hair over and over. I no longer sprayed hairspray or deposit styling jel to my hair to keep it the shape I desire. What a life! No more daily routine that I normally performed on my hair!
I, who had no wife, no children, no hair, no comb, and no mirror!
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