Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Walk (07/20/06)
-
TITLE: The Shoes Will Fit | Previous Challenge Entry
By Kim Thomas
07/26/06 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
I recently saw a news report that said women are having “cosmetic toe amputation surgery” to fit into a certain style of shoe! NO KIDDING! They are actually having their toes shortened. Some of the women featured in the story have spent hundreds of dollars on designer shoes. The problem is they don’t have the feet for the shoes! “If the shoe doesn’t fit, fix the feet” is their motto. Too bad Cinderella’s stepsisters didn’t have this opportunity…boy, how different THAT story might have ended!
You may recall the infamous Imelda Marcos, wife of the late Philippine president, Ferdinand. It is reported that Mrs. Marcos owned over 3,000 pairs of shoes. What in the world can a person do with 3,000 pairs of shoes? Wouldn’t you forget what you have?
I, and most women I know, have more shoes than we need. I think we justify this by rationalizing a need for a certain style of shoe for a certain task or event. We also have several different styles of black shoes: pumps, flats, sandals, boots...just to name a few.
I own several pairs of dress shoes, mostly of the “pump” variety. I have them in a wide range of colors, with a few differing characteristics. I wear them with dresses – they make my legs look slimmer, and I wear them with slacks because I want to believe they make me look taller. The truth is, though, none of them are very comfortable. They do serve a reasonable function, but comfort isn’t it. And frankly, that doesn’t matter. They look sharp and THAT is the point.
I also own a pair of athletic shoes. The primary function of these shoes is to cushion my feet during exercise. They look brand new. Guess that tells you something, doesn’t it? However, when I do take advantage of them, they do what they were designed to do – protect my feet.
You know, walking with Christ requires a change of shoes now and then. As a Christ-follower, the road of life will ask many things of me. I have to be ready, at a moment’s notice, to put on the right shoes for the task I am called to.
Occasionally Christ asks me to get dirty. Sometimes, in order to fulfill His call, I have to get my hands and feet down into the mud. I have to shake off my prissiness, put on my work boots, and be willing to be grubby. Personally, this has meant taking missions trips to El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Jamaica. It was in these foreign places I learned to serve without thought of getting dirt under my nails or getting my shoes dirty. It was pure joy to serve Christ in this way.
When I have my running shoes on, I can be so effective for Christ. I am busy and productive. But, there’s also the risk of doing too much. Sometimes in my life there is an increasing need to produce more, to achieve more, to succeed. These can be worthwhile gains, but on the other hand, often I am moving too fast. If I am honest, I’m either running away from something, or trying too hard to catch something else. The Holy Spirit would say, “Slow down!” Its all right to stroll, to walk. Running the race is not all there is to life. There is a time for me to put on my running shoes, and a time to take them off.
My life’s call is to walk as Jesus walked. To love and serve selflessly and unconditionally. This walk will require me to change my shoes frequently so that, like Paul, I can be all things to all men – so that I may bring them to Christ. (1 Corinthians 9:19ff).
And another thing: God is the only Designer who will tailor make those shoes, especially for me, so that I can serve Him effectively. He expects nothing more than that I put them on and walk with him. And the only surgery required is the one on my heart…so that I will have HIS heart in bringing the lost to Christ!
I can sing, “Hallelujah, I’m walking with the King”. And these shoes fit me to a tee!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
I could see this in a devotional book, and I thought your writing even had a bit of the "chicklit" feel to it, if that is something you are interested in. Great voice.