14 Nov
Sunday Morning Shoes
Sunday morning. Alarm clock rings. I swing my arm down upon the snooze button; a momentary lapse in noise, a momentary lapse in judgment. A few minutes of restless quiet envelope my sleepy frame before reality smacks me in the face. It is Sunday morning. It is SUNDAY morning! I am going to be late for church! I throw an outfit together and freshen up before heading downstairs to my family – some still decked out in pajamas. I guess I wasn’t the only one…
In my mind, church that week had just become another routine activity to check off my list. My primary concern was not anticipating a gripping message but merely on the routine activities I had to complete before I scurried out the door. My focus was entirely skewed and I didn’t plan on gaining anything from the morning service. However, nothing could have prepared me for the unreal experience that lay ahead.
I arrived on time with enough to spare to talk with some friends and get settled in the seats with my family. Soon the guitars cued the congregation to rise to their feet. We began singing awesome praises to our Savior. (But praises only ring if the heart is rejoicing.) We all bowed our heads in reverent prayer. (But it can only touch our hearts if we do more than close our eyes.) Finally, we sat back down as the pastor got ready to speak. He spoke of Jesus becoming entirely humble and servant-like as his disciples arrived for a meal one day to find the foot-washer was “off-duty.” He painted a picture of the disciples’ pride and negligence to stoop to such a task then illustrated the probable, contrasting silence as the disciples realized their Master was washing their feet. While this story is incredibly moving, especially if you have ever had the humbling experience of having a loved one wash your own feet, this is not what stirred me most.
The pastor went on to say that Jesus made a sacrifice so He could teach a lesson to His disciples. “For he who is least among you all-he is greatest,” Jesus says in Luke 9:48. Jesus’ sacrifice was key in many areas of His life on earth, but sometimes the sacrifice part is missed. However, I don’t think I will ever forget the wonder that comes in sacrifice after the wonder that captured me next.
“You may think I’m crazy,” the pastor began, “but I want to try something. I want you to take off your shoes. If you feel led, I want you to take off your shoes and bring them right here to the front,” he gestured towards the stairs at the foot of the stage. “Some of us are going to walk out of here barefoot today, and some people might think we are crazy, but you know what? That’s okay. These shoes are going to go to the Soles for Souls program where people who have to walk miles without shoes every day in countries everywhere will have shoes on their feet. “
I have never been more amazed, overjoyed, or stunned in church than in that moment. Gradually people all around from all different areas of the sanctuary began to come up, shoes in hand, feet bared to the world. Some of these people had on their Sunday best – their most impressive pair of kicks. And you know what? They placed them all over the front of the sanctuary and walked out of that church barefoot.
Sometimes God places a call in the church that we know about ahead of time. But oftentimes, God is spontaneous and may ask something of us that we are not prepared for. Our heart condition and responsiveness will determine our reaction to such an incredible call. And let me tell you – the immediacy of people’s sacrifice was awing. It was incredibly moving to see people so willingly sacrifice forever their prized possessions. Who knows what intangible burdens the congregation laid at the feet of the cross that morning? But somewhere, men and women who have never known the comfort of soles, who have never known the blessing of a Spirit-blessed soul, will receive both gifts just as quickly as the congregation sacrificed.
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Filed in: Humility, Responding to God, Take action, Worship
About the Author
Sarah is a freshman at Belmont University where she is studying journalism and theater. She can be found snuggling up with a good book, discovering new music, riding in her car with the windows down (singing at the top of her lungs) and playing guitar on her front porch. She also enjoys writing music and lyrics. Her passions for traveling, ministry, and fighting social injustice foreshadow an exciting journalism career post-college. In the meantime, she hopes to go skydiving, take a stunt driving course, and go backpacking in the Rockies all while living a life that points others to her beautiful Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Sarah can be contacted via email at vagabond99@live.com.
