A Simple Haircut

 

David: One’s hair grows while you’re biking. In fact, it may even grow faster, since it’s kept moist under that helmet and receives lots of sun! Or not. But a month and a half into our ride, I really needed a haircut. See photo for visual proof.

We’ve just spent our second day at Camp Woods, Texas. Interesting in many ways, in this case, particularly because of the Cuts For Him Barbershop in town. A rarity in these small Texas towns. 

One might make an assumption that Josh, the barber, grew up here and never left town  Quite the opposite. Josh grew up in Eagle Pass, along the border. A “big town” with all that goes along with that. But he married a woman who grew up in Camp Woods, who was ready to “leave town.”

Marriage, a move to Colorado, children and a well paying  job followed. In other words - success, as many people, maybe most people, would define it.

But when Josh’s wife said she was homesick for Texas, Josh said he’d move back. Back to her hometown, with a population of a little over 500 people. Josh’s buddies who owned barbershops heard of his plan to open a barbershop for men. “You’re crazy,” they told him. “Take that 500 and divide it in half and you get 250 men. Then take the percentage of them that care about their hair. Or even have hair to cut. You’ll starve. “

But Josh came back. 8 years ago. And opened his Barbershop 8 months ago. He’s relieved that he’s paying the rent. But it will take an uptick in business to recoup his initial investment. 

But Josh is happy. He has a better home life. More time with his family. And he’s the youth Director at the Local Church.  He explains that there are young people in town - and young people at his church - who are poor. Who do not have the money for a haircut. “But how would it look if I’m the Youth Director and a barber and there are young people who have shaggy hair?”he asks. So they come and get their hair cut , and sweep the floor, or do some other chore. And, Josh explained, it often seems that after giving a free haircut, the next customer leaves a tip that covers both.

It can be hard living in a small town when you’re not in total agreement with everything that goes on. Josh grew up with a lot of violence around him. He is not a big fan of guns. He hunts for food for his family - using a bow and an arrow. He hopes his boys grow up and don’t pick up guns. But Texas as a whole is pretty pro-gun. Residents in Camp Woods who patronize Josh’s Barbershop are very defensive about any attempts to restrict gun ownership.  Josh believes in “living in peace” with everyone he meets.

We talked about how we deal with differences of opinion in a small town in order to build and strengthen community. It’s not easy. But there’s no other way to build the kind of communities, and the kind of world, we want.