3/31/14 -- A Change of View

Every Lenten season I think about what to do to mark the season.  This year I came up a blank until I talked to a Rabbi colleague of mine.  She pointed me in the direction I needed to go.
I worked off and on for many years at Children's Hospital in Seattle, often on the cancer ward.  I walked with the children and their families down the dark path you walk when your child has cancer.  Some of those kids went home.  I buried more of them than I can name but I remember them and carry them in my heart.
I have often wished I could do something to help those children.  I can't do a run/walk to support cancer research -- my body won't let me do that anymore. 
My Rabbi friend, Elizabeth Dunsker, told me that of all the dollars that go to cancer research in this country, only 4% goes to pediatric research.  I find that appalling.  Rabbi Elizabeth and over 20 other rabbis are shaving their heads on Apr 1st in support of the children and to raise money for St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Rabbi Elizabeth has a lot of gorgeous hair!

I have known about this for a couple of months and couldn't get it out of my head.  St. Baldrick's Foundation gives all its money for pediatric research.  Their administrative costs are pretty low.  Reviewers give them top marks.
I knew what I needed to do for Lent.
So last Sunday at the Lenten luncheon, I shared how the kids from Children's are still with me and told them about St. Baldrick's.  I talked about how the traditional themes for Lent are repentance (finding a new direction), fasting (tying a string around your finger) and prayer (the fuel for it all). 
Then Sherry, the barber from Barbers (the shop where I get my hair cut) flipped a cape around my shoulders and shaved my head.  All of it.  Didn't realize that I had that much hair!

Sherry from Barbers shaving my head

I invited anyone who wanted to do so to join me and have their head shaved too.  One fellow jumped at the chance and came up.  He didn't have a lot of hair but Sherry shaved it off -- and then shaved off his very bushy beard!

2 Baldies for kids with cancer from 1st Congregational Church of Vancouver

I encouraged the congregation to let my shaved head be a string around their finger, as it is for me, that every time they see it, remember to pray for the kids.
We passed out card saying that I shaved my head for St. Baldricks with their website on it:  http://www.stbaldricks.org/ .  Check out the site and donate if you can but above all, remember to pray for the children battling cancer, their families, docs, nurses, other caregivers and the researchers who are trying to help the kids.
I've never done anything like this before!  Changes in my life since yesterday:
   I have to wear a hat when it is cold.  Who knew hair kept your head warm like that?
   Instead of washing my hair, now I wash my head with a washcloth.  Interesting.
   When I move my scalp, I feel the fabric of my hat as I never have before.
   I don't slide as easily on fabric.
   People have more trouble telling my gender.  Maybe they don't notice the bumps on my chest???  I refuse to wear a turban, a scarf or a bow pasted on -- all helpful suggestions from the folks at church.
   People ask me if I am ill, meaning, do I have cancer.  I tell them what I'm doing and why.  Then I hand them a card with the website on it.  I printed 100 cards and I'm almost out.

The new me

This morning when I went to my bathroom to finish getting ready for my day when a bald person looked at me from my mirror and startled me.  But she also reminded me to pray for the children and for St. Baldrick's. 
The string around my finger is working.  Maybe it will work for you too.