The Lowe-Down

I have a confession to make. Try as I might, I cannot bring myself to appreciate one of the latest trends in hairstyles. To be clear, I am talking about the Mullet. I didn’t like it in the 80’s and I find myself wanting to say, “Surely, in this day and age, we have progressed beyond the Mullet?”. And yet, as I look out my office window, even as I write I am greeted by the sight of two lads sporting that familiar ‘business at the front, party at the back’ style. The problem here is not so much in the haircut itself as it is in my assumptions about progress. It is very easy to buy into the very modern, Western view of the world that suggests we are on a steady and inevitable march of progress.

Author and social commentator Mark Sayers observes that “If you get out of the West, you see that a lot of other cultures see history as continuing to repeat in cycles. But what’s interesting about the West is that we have this deeply ingrained belief in progress.” The return of the Mullet seems to challenge this picture of progress.
Fashion writer, Oliver Lunn even claims that “there are Greek statues that date back to the 6th century BCE that show mullets were at the inception of western culture. Ancient Roman chariot racers rocked them, too. And in the 16th century, Hittite warriors sported them, along with the Assyrians and the Egyptians.” It seems our modern gladiators on the football field are simply reflecting another rotation in the cycle of history. Why does this matter? Because, in the words of author Skye Jethani, “Our vision of the future determines how we understand the present.” If I think humanity is on a constant trajectory of progress, then the return of such ‘evils’ as the Mullet will upset and confuse me greatly. How is it that we have not learnt from past horrors (think Billy Ray Cyrus or Warwick Capper)? Surely with all the modern grooming technology we can do better than this? What will my children say when they see the coifed atrocities of my generation? But if I view the journey of humanity as an endless cyclical one then, while I might still lament the return of the Mullet, I may not be so upset or confused by it. I will understand that this has been an ‘evil’ that has recurred throughout human history and can be overcome just as it has before. This is a slight improvement in my outlook but still seems a bit depressing.

But what if there was a third way? What if the future did not rely only on human progress? What if the seemingly endless cycles of history had an end point? This is a Christian view of the world. Rather than progress for progress’s sake, we are invited to join in God’s work of restoration and renewal. And rather than picturing a future of endless cycles of good and evil, we look forward with anticipation to a time when the world is fully restored to its intended beauty.

I’m not sure where this leaves the humble Mullet but I do think this is the challenge that faces our young people today on so many fronts. The promise of progress and a bright and shiny future that the world has sold them is being shattered by a constant bombardment of failures. For all our supposed progress it seems that corruption, violence and evil still abound. What is more, the threat of global environmental disaster and the devastating impacts of COVID-19 and the growing number of international conflicts have cast a long shadow over their future dreams. The narrative of endless progress looks in serious doubt. No wonder so many young people are struggling.

The message of hope that Christians hold to is that while human failings should not surprise us, our future does not rest on our human endeavors alone. In the death and resurrection of Jesus, the cycle of good and evil has already been broken. Our trajectory is towards a world restored. We have a role to play in confronting the evils of the world, but we also have the assurance that our efforts are a part of God’s larger plan for humanity. A plan to bring renewal and restoration to a broken world.

When confronted on a daily basis with news feeds full of wars and disasters, it is helpful to hold on to the peace which comes from trusting in God’s goodness and the inspiration to work for good in all things.