A story by renowned Malayalam writer Sarah Joseph comes to mind where she describes- thick, black, long and wavy or hair with loose curls becomes an image of strength, power, and authority that emphasizes femininity.
When you are among the Native Americans, you see both boys and girls with their long free-flowing hair. Sometimes, especially when they are very young it's hard to distinguish boys from girls.
For them, long hair is a symbol of strength, power and sacredness for both men and women.
The Bible, in the sixth chapter of the Book of Numbers, has a detailed account of the Nazirite vow. In three ways the Nazirite vow could be there. Vowed by parents for life; vowed by parents for a certain period of time; or vowed by individuals for a certain period of time.
We see three people who had the Nazirite vow through their parents for life. Samuel, Samson, and the Baptist. When Hannah, who was childless, prayed for a son, she vowed to God that she would dedicate the child as a Nazirite to God. The Nazirite vow of Samson and the Baptist was according to the instruction by God’s angel even before their birth.
Not using wine or other strong drinks; not touching a razor to their hair; and keeping away from the dead. These are the things that Nazirites must observe.
According to the Old Testament, both men and women could take and observe the Nazireite vow.
In recent years I have come across many people who have taken the Nazirite vow.
Jesus was not a Nazirite. As the firstborn, he was dedicated to God. However, as the law prescribed, Joseph and Mary presented him in the temple on the 40th day and then offered two pegions instead and took him back. Therefore, he wasn't obliged to follow the Nazirite vow for any period of time.
One can suspect that there's a reference to the Nazirite vow when he tells a young man, "let the dead bury their own dead"
When secularism increasingly transfer the celebratory joy from one's own life to the external and material, and the world is more and more indulging in drinks and drugs, isn't it natural that the Nazirites would be considered fools?
