I’m not a huge fan of the Winter Olympics when they show up on TV every four years.

Hockey is probably the event that I understand the most, and that’s only because I get to watch my alma mater’s women’s hockey team compete for national championships year after year (On Wisconsin!).

When it comes to figure and speed skating, snowboarding, or curling, I’ll just follow along with what the announcers say and take their word for it. 

I have had enough awareness to know that Alysa Liu, a California native and U.S. Olympian, won the gold medal for women’s singles figure skating.

This was celebrated via many social media avenues by those who recognize hard work, challenges, individuality, and winning.

Curiously enough, a small number of comments pertained to another part of the story — her hair?

I’m no expert on the subject, but she appears to have alternating light and dark hair down the length of it.

To some, this is either a problem or something that needs to be addressed.

For one day, she was the best in the world at what she does and the first thing people noticed . . . was her hair . . . and not with complimentary tones.

It made me think of a similar, but more intense reaction 61 years ago around this time.

Four men in their early 20s, originally from Liverpool, England, had made their way to the U.S. and were selling a lot of records and breaking a lot of records. But many commentators at the time could only focus on . . . their hair . . . in all of its mop top-ness. Again, talent eclipsed by hair.

One’s hair seems to be an immediate and superficial criticism one can make of another.

Didn’t get the job? It was probably your hair.

Date didn’t go well? It was probably your hair.

Want to succeed more in life? Get a haircut (the word “hippie” may or may not be included after this phrase).

What if everyone just went bald willingly? What would be the new blames or excuses? Maybe it wasn’t the hair’s fault at all.

What does the Bible say?

When in doubt, turn toward the Good Book.

Ezekiel 44:20 says, “They shall not shave their heads nor let their hair hang loose, but they shall keep their hair carefully trimmed.”

Who are they? Ah, it’s the “Levitical priests, sons of Zadok,” according to verse 15. I reckon this doesn’t apply to everyone, then?

Numbers 6:5 says, “While they are under the Nazirite vow, no razor shall touch their hair. Until the period of their dedication to the LORD is over, they shall be holy, letting the hair of their heads grow freely.”

Who is this “they”? According to the NABRE footnotes, Nazirites were “men and women of God like the prophets” such as Samson, Samuel, and John the Baptist.

I guess this might not apply to many of us either. 

How about this one? Proverbs 16:31 says, “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by a life that is just.” 

You’re welcome.

Moving on to the words of Our Lord and Savior in the New Testament, Luke 12:7 says, “Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows,” whereas Matthew 10:30-31 says, “Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

That’s quite the attention to detail. The Trinity does care about our hair in some way. Take that, sparrows.

I was curious if the Catechism of the Catholic Church had anything to say about hair. It doesn’t, other than several instances of it being part of the word “chair”.

One little mistype, and we may accidentally start a debate over the “hair of St. Peter”. 

What should we say?

From the earliest of times, hair was acknowledged as something to give proper attention to. 

In the thousands of years since, some people have given a lot of attention to their hair, and some people have given very little attention to it.

Some people have given a lot of attention to other people’s hair and some people have given little attention to it.

Who is right and who is wrong? I think that all depends on how your hair and your heart are working together.

Some day, we are going to have a canonized saint who had purple hair. Maybe he or she just really liked the color and wanted to celebrate God’s beauty in that shade of purple. 

There may be well-groomed people who have ended up being thrown into Gehenna.

Not everyone’s hairstyle is going to appeal to everyone. I’m sure I’m guilty of seeing what I thought was a questionable “do” and thought I wouldn’t “do” that. 

Not my comb, not my hairspray, not my dye, not my life.

Maybe we’re so quick to judge one’s hair because it is one of the easiest physical features to have control over.

“You could have done anything, and you went with THAT?”

As long as you’re taking care of yourself and being the best son or daughter of God that you can be, your hairstyle, color, or accessories could just be an extension (no pun intended) of your beautiful soul.

If someone doesn’t like your hair, there may be other things they don’t like about you, either. That’s on them, not you.

And lest I offend anyone with no hair for various reasons, I like you too.

Thank you for reading.

I’m praying for you.