Rachel is a wigmaker in her hospital’s oncology department.
But she is more than that. As one of her clients writes, “she is a one-person support group, combining her styling skills with the background of a therapist, the intimacy of a close friend, and the understanding of a sister.”
When she graduated from cosmetology school, Rachel had no interest in a marquee salon downtown. Her aunt’s battle with Hodgkin’s disease led her to this work. Twenty-four years later, she is a seasoned hairstylist and the guru of hair loss.
A woman diagnosed with breast cancer remembers her first meeting with Rachel.
Rachel worked with her to find a wig and a style that would look and feel natural. Then came the question about the woman’s baldness-to-come: Should she shave it off or watch it go gradually? With the gentle wisdom and understanding that came from 24 years of these conversations, Rachel offered a number of suggestions and options. Then Rachel got to the point: “So much of your experience with cancer is out of your control. A lot of women like to take control where they can. You can decide when you’ll lose your hair, instead of letting cancer treatment decide for you.”
A few weeks later, the woman returned and asked Rachel to shave her beautiful dark locks. Rachel sat her down in her chair and turned her away from the mirror. Rachel worked gently and quickly.
When she had finished, the woman writes, “Rachel twirled me around to face the mirror and somehow, in the same motion, she wrapped her arms around me from behind and placed her chin on the back of my chair. We were practically cheek-to-cheek. I stared. The tissues again appeared. Rae was silent for as long as I needed. It was over. Rae had virtually lifted and carried me up the first gruesome step of my recovery.”
In the Gospel today Jesus says, “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”
What Jesus is saying is, if only the Christian was as eager and ingenious as the person of this world is in their attempt to attain money and comfort, the Christian would be a much better person.
Christianity will become real and effective to the extent we are as committed to it, as we are to our worldly pursuits.
In today’s story, a hairdresser devotes her skills to helping women with cancer clear the first emotional hurdles in their recovery from breast cancer.
Rachael’s uses her skills and ingenuity to reach out to others in their moment of suffering, in an act of compassion and hope.
She invests the “wealth’ she possesses to create a better life for others. May we learn from her example.