"Josey Johnson's Hair and the Holy Spirit" (Esau McCaulley)

TITLE: Josey Johnson's Hair and the Holy Spirit
AUTHOR: Esau McCaulley, with LaTonya Jackson as Illustrator
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2022, (32 pages).
 

What has a little girl's hair got to do with the Holy Spirit? Readers might find that intriguing but with patience and openness, one would quickly connect the dots and see many themes important for today. Josey Johnson is a little girl who loves her hair. Some days, she would have it braided while other days she would prefer pigtails or curly afros. Some days, it seems like her hair could very much take a life of its own! Like many young Church-going families, Josey goes to Church every Sunday morning with her parents. She would dress well for the occasion, but for that Sunday, it was a special occasion: Pentecost Sunday! Gradually, the author connects the different types of hair, the diversity of people gathered, and the meaning of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit comes. There are several themes that the author put out that readers (and children) could pick up quickly. The key theme would be the celebration of diversity, just like the Holy Spirit who gave different gifts to different people. When the Holy Spirit comes, He unites people from all walks of life, starting with believers. 

McCaulley highlights several examples of diversity. From different kinds of hairstyles to different kinds of fish in creation, readers get to see the breadth of diversity in all kinds of shapes, patterns, and colours. The purpose is to teach children from a young age on how to appreciate their friends, classmates, neighbours, and especially people who are different from us. For God has created each of us unique, fearfully, and wonderfully made. If God has loved us for who we are, why shouldn't we do the same for one another? 

This is a beautiful book with a simple message: The way we celebrate Pentecost is essentially about celebrating diversity. God made us different not to make enemies of one another. He created each of us special so that He could love each of us for who we are. There is no need for us to compare ourselves just to feel a sense of dignity. It is simply because we are created and loved by God, we are already special in God's eyes. When the Holy Spirit comes to us on Pentecost, it is a reminder that being different is a gift from God. He gave us diverse gifts for the benefit of the body of Christ. He wants us to love one another. 

This simple message is needed even as our world becomes more divided. From politics to social identities, ethnicities to diverse backgrounds, every movement for equality sparks a counter-movement against it. In America, there is that age-old racial divide between white and black. That is not the only one. Genderwise, many stand in solidarity with women in the #MeToo movement. Racially, the "Black Lives Matter" movement reminds us of the injustice happening to the Black community all over the world. In Canada, there are the "Idle No More," "Indigenous Lives Matter,"  or "Truth and Reconciliation" movements. For each of these movements, the moment people begin to ask why, it would have achieved one of the primary aims of the movement: Raise awareness. This book does exactly the same thing. It centers the message of the Pentecost on the need to appreciate the differences and diversities the Holy Spirit has given to the Church, and how Christians ought to lead the way in championing unity in diversity. It is a simple but increasingly necessary message for the world. 

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

---

This book has been provided courtesy of InterVarsity Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.