I have heard of No Shave November for a handful of years, but I never had the nerve to try it. First of all, I hate going more than two days without shaving; I think I look like a bum, but my wife likes it. Second, I have gone about a week without shaving once; it was for a Vacation Bible School in which I was supposed to be a common man in Jerusalem in 33 A.D. It didn't really work, but it was only for a few days. Finally, I don't usually have the self-discipline to accomplish this.
So I mentioned it in passing to my wife, my daughter, and a teenage girl in my church. All three vigorously persuaded me to try it.
Then I checked with Scripture. Doing this is a form of a Nazirite vow. Check it out in Numbers 6: 1-21. I haven't touched my beard since October 31st (although I did have a hair cut after about 11 days).
It has been an itchy experience. My two-year old grandson thinks it's hilarious. He keeps patting my face. My wife told me to shave it off after day 5 declaring, "I don't like it anymore." But I keep going.
The reason for doing this is to raise awareness of men's health issues, especially prostate cancer. If men would get themselves checked out at least once each year - gee, guys, that means getting an annual physical! - then this cancer would not kill as many guys as it does.
So I don't shave for November 2014. Here is the proof!
Mark
