5:00 Shadow, 7:30 Meeting
I have a conundrum…
So this working professional thing is still quite new and I’m struggling with several more practical areas. There’s the clergy collar issue, the I-only-own-one-pair-of-dress-shoes issue, and the facial hair-evening meetings-and-it’s-a-pain-to-shave-twice issue.
Though it perhaps shouldn’t be so, I realize the culture very much judges professionals by their attire, so I do my best to look presentable and professional. Ever noticed how the presidential candidates always look freshly shaved? Newscasters are always clean-shaven. Remember Al Gore’s beard debacle?
Most days I shave about 8:00 a.m., but by evening, I’m definitely sporting the dreaded 5:00 shadow.
Now Megan likes the look. Apparently JCrew models can’t get a decent shave anywhere as every one has about three days beard growth. I’ve also noticed that in recent years baseball players have followed suit, apparently saving money by shaving only every few days. But somehow I don’t think the expectations for Scottish ministers has quite caught up with America’s fascination with JCrew or baseball.
Remember when you first started shaving and it was so novel, so manly? Well, it’s just plain annoying now. I don’t have an electric razor so the whole shaving process takes time and effort. At the moment I use a Gillette five-blade razor and my face definitely appreciates a few minutes of hot towel treatment before it goes under the knife.
I’ve experimented with a goatee or full beard, but most people said that went over like a pregnant pole-vaulter. I have evening meetings several times a week and it’s really annoying to shave before them. Help me out folks, what’s the pastor protocol for a 5:00 shadow?
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although perhaps i am a cumnock dirtball of the simpleton variety, i would duly note that the probablity that a certain revolutionary carpenter from nazareth sported a form of facial hair fashion is quite high. one might argue cultural relativity within a particular historical construct, etc. is/are the cause(s) for such a Palestinian hair folicle fascade, however i say: j.c. is eternal. thus, it follows (to use a philosophical employment), so is the beard. grow it. groom it. become great.
have you considered simply reducing the surface area to be shaved? perhaps by growing a glorious stache like mine?
Just clicked over here from the comment on Renderings. Good to know that other pastors struggle with issues of wardrobe and grooming. I’d say to let the 5:00 shadow be what it is. If anyone mentions it, make a claim for saving water or something like that. I think that most people have more on their minds than whether the pastor has a 5:00 shadow at an evening meeting. If they do spend the meeting thinking about that, well, there are some issues there. I also think there’s an argument to be made that we don’t do anyone any favors by always presenting ourselves as perfect and totally put together. I think we’re a generation that’s redefining the pastorate as more down-to-earth, common man/woman type people. We aren’t our parents and that’s OK.
Peace-Alan
Thanks for the comment on my blog, will read the Princeton obituary… and I agree the Herald’s lack of geography also shocking!!
Laughed at the shoes thing (although from September to April I wear my cowboy boots… so that problem goes away, except for funerals) and this, although being blonde girlie it doesn’t apply!! Am off to read what you say about the clergy collar though as this is a ‘live’ debate for me…
I say, shave in the morning and let it go at that. If that’s not enough for someone in the church, well….it needs to be enough.