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Tuesday, July 7
(This is something just for fun. Or is it?)
The other day, I began wondering about shoes. If you’re a woman, other than which pair to wear each day, you’ve probably thought about shoes when you need a new pair or you saw that really cute pair in the store window and had to have them.
Or if you’re a man, you don’t give much thought to your shoes except when you have a hole in the sole of your shoe and you step in a puddle!
Or maybe you think about shoes when the ones you’re wearing start pinching your feet. If they’re comfortable, you don’t give them much thought.
Shoes come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, materials, prices, and purposes. Some are…
* clunky
* spikey
* rubber-soled
* dressy
* casual
I’m going to ask you some questions, so answer honestly. If you were a pair of shoes, what kind would you be? Pick one.
* baby shoes
* ballet shoes
* dressy spiked heels
* casual flats or loafers
* sandals or thongs
* clunky platforms
* boots, any kind
* recreational
* dressy men’s shoes
Each has their own personality. If applied to your personality…
…baby shoes: you are still young, immature.
…ballet shoes: you dance through life, no cares.
…dressy spiked heels: you try to squeeze into what’s fashionable.
…casual flats or loafers: you are easy-going, take things as they come.
…sandals or thongs: you have no cares, doing whatever comes naturally.
…clunky platforms: you try to build yourself up, comparing yourself with others in order to fit in.
…boots: you are covered, protected, a hard worker.
…recreational shoes: you are on the go or always at play, outgoing.
…dressy men’s shoes: you are mature and handle responsibilities well.
So, what’s your overall appearance or characteristic as a pair of shoes? Pick one of each pair.
* new or worn
* soft-soled or hard-soled
* polished to perfection or dirty/muddy
Now, let’s put it all together and apply it to your spiritual life. If you are a pair of…
…baby shoes: you are a newbie to the Christian life, taking tiny baby steps.
…ballet shoes: you are the one always dancing in praise to the Lord.
…dressy spiked heels: you are uptight, squeezing into someone else’s idea of what a Christian should be.
…casual flats or loafers: you are comfortable being a Christian.
…sandals or thongs: you are open to all “spiritual” things, accepting even those things outside the realm of the Word, such as all paths lead to God.
…clunky platforms: you try to elevate yourself in the eyes of others to show your spirituality, to look like them.
…boots: you are fully protected from the elements, ready to go to work or march for the Lord at a moment’s notice, wherever He may send you.
…recreational shoes: you are more sports-minded than spiritual-minded, spending more time with sports than with the Lord. Your game is on your mind while sitting in the pew on Sunday morning.
…dressy men’s shoes: you have an important role in the church and willing to serve.
Now, which one are you? Be honest!
So, what do you look like as a pair of shoes? Pick one of each pair.
* new or worn
* soft-soled or hard-soled
* polished to perfection or dusty/muddy
If you chose…
…new: you haven’t stepped into God’s service or purpose yet.
…worn: you are “well-heeled,” as they say, having served for a while.
…soft-soled: you are soft, easy-going, comfortable in speaking to unbelievers about Christ.
…hard-soled: you are rigid, stiff, uncomfortable in reaching out to others, if at all.
…polished to perfection: you are perfect, having a holier-than-thou attitude.
…dusty/muddy: you are serving others where they are, where they hurt, even if it means getting a little dirty.
Here’s my answer…Sometimes, I’m a pair of casual flats, soft-soled, worn, and dirty. Sometimes, I change and am a pair of boots, soft-soled, worn, dirty, and ready for work. Sometimes, I’m a pair of ballet shoes, dancing in joy to the Lord. Sometimes, I even feel like a pair of baby shoes.
But whatever I am, I want to be that pair that Jesus slips into easily, the pair sitting beside Him, ready to be walked out in service.
Okay, so, what are you? Which shoe personality are you? In which shoe are you most comfortable? How do you walk out your Christianity? Did your first answer change from your last one?
Maybe I’ve made you think about shoes, your life, and your spiritual life. I hope so. And just maybe, you will never think about shoes in the same way again!
~~Blessings, Lynn~~
You said: "I want to be that pair that Jesus slips into easily, the pair sitting beside Him, ready to be walked out in service."
Me too!
Hope you have a great week!
Karen
I'm definitely a worn, dirty pair of work boots... fits me all the way around!
A pair of at-least-slightly-dirty hiking boots (me).
But whichever pair I am at the moment, I too want to be that pair that Jesus "slips into easily" and can use for His purpose.
Thanks, Lynn, for another great post.
Vicki
What a fun, insightful post Lynn! I kept going back to ballet shoes and soft-soles. When I was a young girl and staying with my cousins, I always walked around on my tiptoes. Interestingly, one of my daughters did too. Well, my aunt suggested to my mother that I take a ballet class. I loved doing my plies and learning to position my feet just right. During my childhood, I would have to say I pretended, "I was dancing through life without any cares."
Now, I believe my non-believer friends, as well as my Christian friends are watching my childlike faith in Jesus Christ bud and blossom like a beautiful rose as I dance through life.
Before I reached the part with your answer I had already decided my answer and it was similar to your answer. I am whatever Jesus needs me to be. I'm HIS vessel/tool to be used for His purpose. Not perfect, but a work in progress. Praise God! Great post!
Wow! That was really creative and thought-provoking. Glad I "stumbled" upon your blog! ;-)
Like you, Lynn, I want to be the pair that Jesus slips into and that walk in service. Also like you, I change slightly from time to time which kind, but for the most part I'm the casual flats, soft soled, worn and dirty. Thanks for the interesting and thoughtful post!
This was a beautiful, fun and though-provoking entry. You know I am a professional ballerina, currently performing, but I rarely dance thru life with little care or worries. I am the person who selects the shoe to fit the occasion and I walk thru life adapting to my surroundings, advocating for the underdog and praising the Lord.
I think I would like to be the barefooted person. You know like where the scriptures say, "Take off your shoes for the place where you're standing is holy ground."
Shoes are a beautiful accessory in life as long as we don't put more value in them than we do people and as long as we don't fail to realize that the Lord has provided them all.
Because I'm clinically diagnosed OCD and color coordinate everything my shoes help to define me as a person. My walk and my talk help define me as a Christian.
Hugs to you CyberMom ♥
Karen, Thank you so much for taking time to stop by and read my post. I deeply appreciate your comment. Hope you have a great week as well! Blessings to you!
Lisa from Alzheimer's...so glad to hear your answer. Love that! Bless you for your service to the Lord!
Thanks, sweet Vicki! Love your answer, too! Says you're out there working for the Lord. Awesome! Thanks for the comment! Be blessed!
Yay, JoAnne! You did it! You got through! Love your answer. That's what the Lord wants of us...childlike faith. Awesome!
My son's new wife's 1yo daughter (got that?) is doing the same thing...trying to walk on her tiptoes.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting. Blessings to you!
Great, Kimberly! Thank you for blessing me with your comment. So glad your heart's desire is to serve the Lord. May He bless you!
Blessed2Serve, So glad you "stumbled" my way! Hope you'll come back and visit again. Thank you so much for the comment. You've blessed me. May the Lord bless you!
Hey, Connie! Thanks for being a loyal reader. You know I always appreciate your sweet comments. Does my heart good! Blessings to you!
Oh, Gigi! I love your addition. I wish I'd thought of that. Beautiful! Thank you for being my cheerleader! Bless you!
If I were a pair of shoes...
I would be a slightly worn, slightly scuffed, slightly soiled and fully broken in pair of sensible sneakers, used for almost every walking task a man might encounter.
There might be days when a stronger, cleaner, neater, more elegant pair of shoes are needed but I wouldn't be that pair.
At the end of long days I would be carelessly tossed among the other shoes and wait patiently till I'm needed again. When needed I would be familiar, comfortable, dependable and ready to work for what's best, what's necessary, what's right and what's fun.
Oh, John, yes! Absolutely! I love your answer. We all love those comfy shoes that we so easily slip into and I'm sure the Lord looks for those "shoes" He can easily slip on for His work to be done. Bless you!
I'm a mood dresser so hmmmmm... fun Lynn - thanks!
I wanted to let you know that I awarded you a blog award!!! There is a link to it on my blog!!! God bless!!!!
Lynn, your post made me smile.
I have always been something of a rebel and my choice of shoes would confim that. I would be a pair of hand made moccasins, tough leather on the bottom (for hard work), but buttery soft everywhere else (for never chaffing the feet that wore me). I would be uniquely crafted for one Person's feet and I would not fit anyone else at all. I would be scuffed and stained with much use, but soft and clean from tender care. Even when completely worn out, I would still be loved and kept by my Owner. What more could I ask in life?
Be blessed!
Lynnda
I've got a worn soft sole muddy platform on one foot and a new hard soled polished boot on the other foot.
There are some areas of my life that I compare myself to others in but I get my whole heart into serving others. I feel like there are a lot of ways the Lord is teaching me new things about Him even though I've been a believer for 22 years. And I'm right in the middle of serving as he is teaching it all to me.
Lynn, Simply delighted to find your blog! Nice to meet you. I loved your post today, oh goodness, I know our feet are beautiful as we all share the good news of Jesus, but never thought about the shoes. Looks like I found a place to splash around in God's goodness. I'll be back.
Blessings from this missionary mommy in Costa Rica,
Sarah Dawn
That makes me a pair of dusty, muddy boots. And that makes me feel just fine!