Take Off Your Shoes

Take Off Your Shoes
Dave McGhee – April 14, 2012

At the last supper before his death Jesus told his disciples many things; there are two of interest here. First Jesus, the Master, humbled himself to wash the feet of his disciples or students. (John 13:3-17) Second he told them to show the world his love by sharing it. (John 13:34 – 35)

There is also a little story I just heard this Easter.

She thought God created the job for her. It used her gifts in ministry to a group of people for whom both God and she had a special love. But the field in which she worked was rocky and grown up in briars. At the end of each day, her feet were bruised and cut. Was she to endure?

So she came to see me. It was Holy Week [the week before Easter]. Our worship center had a small bowl of water and a print of “The Washing of Feet” by Sieger Koder. She looked at the print and quietly said it was an answer to prayer. She had quickly perceived, as she said, “The face of Jesus is seen only in the feet of His disciple.” – Unknown

This Easter when I read these verses and story, and viewed the picture it was an answer to my prayer. I was struggling with my own response to Jesus’ call. Who was I supposed to help? What was I supposed to do? Where was I supposed to go? The answer was made plain. We are not to worry about these things. We are simply called to love one another throughout our daily walk; responding to events and God’s nudging as they happen. Simple, but difficult.

We humans are strange; we attempt to over control our lives. We separate and isolate the different parts of our life; home, work, school, activities, charity, and church. We also try to protect ourselves by limiting what we see, hear, and pay attention to. We build fortresses like privacy fenced yards, private commuting, and cliques of friends. We put on armor like emotional detachment, sunglasses, clothes that define image, and bury our faces in iPhones. When we do offer assistance it is typically on our terms and often with limited interaction.

What would happen if we took off our protective shoes as we went about our daily business like the woman in the story? What would happen if we let ourselves see, hear, and experience the people, events, and God’s movement that surround us daily? Most of Jesus’ ministry, if not all, happened while he was going somewhere and when he stopped to listen. What would happen if we were as attentive and responded as our hearts and Jesus would have us respond?

"My Own Little World” – Matthew West