Having been to Nairobi in Kenya several times and knowing the city quite well, this story struck a chord with me. Is it just a story? Is it just a myth or a legend or just a rumor?
Being aware of the city and commercial area, as well as the slums and areas in between, I thought this incident had a grain of truth. If it were not entirely true, then the parabolic lesson is certainly true and there is no question about it!
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and beard trimmed.
When the barber started working, they had a good conversation, and talked about so many things and various topics. Doesn’t this happen often?
When they finally brought up the subject of God, the barber said, “I don’t believe there is a God.”
“Why do you say the customer asked?”
The barber said: “Well, you just have to go out into the street to realize that God does not exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be so many abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can’t imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.”
The customer thought for a moment. She looked around the hair salon and it was very crowded, but she didn’t answer because she didn’t want to start an argument.
The barber finished his work and the client left the shop.
Just after leaving the barber shop, he saw a man on the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an unkempt beard. He looked dirty and run down.
The customer turned around and went back into the barbershop and said to the barber, “You know what, barbers don’t exist.”
“How can you say that?” asked the surprised barber. “I’m here, I’m a hairdresser and I just worked with you!”
“No!” exclaimed the customer. “Barbers don’t exist because if they did there wouldn’t be people with long dirty hair and unkempt beards, like that man outside.”
The barber said: “Ah, but barbers exist. What happens is that people do not come to me.” “Exactly” stated the customer.
“That’s the point. God exists, too, but what happens is that people don’t go to him, and people don’t seek him, and people won’t come to him. God exists.”
Is this just a parable or a legend or a rumor or a story? If so, then your lesson certainly holds true!