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My wife met Andy before I did. I don't remember where she got the recommendation but she liked him right away. In fact I don't remember her ever going to another stylist. Well, I met him...seems like 3 years ago? My wife and I were going to see sweet, sweet Baby James. She'd told a coworker, Michelle, who is a huge music buff. And she'd also happened to be bragging about whilst under the shear, and Andy indicated an interest in taking his wife to just such an event. So. There we are: a nice party of 5. Two dudes, three chicks, and sweet Baby James.
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On the date of the show, I was long-locked and resplendent in my split ends. Of course Andy was totally wanting to get into it. We hit if off, and James Taylor performed fantastically. As always. Can the man have a bad night? I don't think so.
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So Andy has gotten into it with my lockage several times now, and I always come away looking pretty prim and proper---in a sharp metro way, you know? No confusion, just a sharp dressed man, strutting his stuff down a quiet Midwestern street. Today, as I rolled out of there, ready to take a shot at being America's Next top...I sort of caught myself feeling loved.
Now, don't take liberties---what I mean is that I felt like Andy had been looking forward to seeing me, and talking to me, and actually liked cutting my hair, and trimming my eyebrow (he always asks really quietly if he can trim it-in case I freak out or something?) for me. (When he asks me it's always kinda "Heya, you know, I know you're a dude and everything, and dude's don't really worry about stuff like that, but, hey-you know, since you're just sitting here, and I happen to have some clippers and stuff, you know, why don't we both just grin and bear it, and get 'er done, eh?")
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The feeling I think is best known as being "particularized." I learned that word this year in a small group study. In that context, we talked about how powerful being "particularized" by somebody is. How Jesus "particularized" those he interacted with. He talked directly to them, going into the specific instance of their lives. He didn't lift them up as examples or types. If he was healing somebody, he healed them, as specific individuals, and blessed them uniquely. He made each individual he dealt with feel as though they were known.I think Andy has an exceptional gift for that. Every time I go in there and sit down in his chair he talks to me like he's been waiting all day for me to get there. That's something to think about. That makes me want to spend time with him. That makes me feel known. And in spite of being known, being cared for. There's something very "Jesus-ish" about that ability that I wish I had a better grasp on. That's a trait I think Jesus must have been well known for. And it's something I think I'd like to be known for.
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