Goodluck Ebele Jonathon, a Nigerian statesman once remarked: “In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags. There were days I had only one meal... I walked miles and crossed rivers to school every day. Didn't have power, didn't have generators, studied with lanterns, but I never despaired.” Ezekiel 24:17 reminds us: “Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.”
Shoes are defined as a purposefully adapted covering for feet, typically made of leather, fabric, rubber or plastic, each with a sturdy sole. They date back thousands of years to pre-historic times, the oldest known pair being sandals made from sagebrush bark. Shoes can provide both comfort and protection. They aid walking practices in general, especially over rough or difficult terrain. However, for some, their luxury is considered out of reach.
For others, their attributed importance is deemed as useful as a peripatetic companion. Often regarded as a sure-footed friend, they travel everywhere a voyager ventures They can take the heartache and pain out of life in so much that they may prevent blisters or harm that would probably otherwise occur if one attempts to walk barefoot. Shoes provide support and stability during most movements and are considered a crucial element of life. They speak fashion and personal expression and can be beneficial to health in areas of poor sanitation. In a psychological or religious connotation, shoes could represent both the protection and armor of God. This may equate metaphorically to a spiritual shielding. Ephesians 6:10-20 reminds us: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”
The idiom: “To walk in another person’s shoes” is primarily regarded as empathy and consideration for someone else. It accepts and understands their point of view and provokes an action to redeem. Ruth 4:1-12 reminds us: “Now Boaz had gone up to the gate and sat down there. And behold, the redeemer, of whom Boaz had spoken, came by. So Boaz said, “Turn aside, friend; sit down here.” And he turned aside and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city and said, “Sit down here.” So they sat down. Then he said to the redeemer, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our relative Elimelech. So I thought I would tell you of it and say, ‘Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people.’ If you will redeem it, redeem it. But if you will not, tell me, that I may know, for there is no one besides you to redeem it, and I come after you.” And he said, “I will redeem it.” Then Boaz said, “The day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you also acquire Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead, in order to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance.” Then the redeemer said, “I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I impair my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. So when the redeemer said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” he drew off his sandal. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses this day that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and to Mahlon. Also Ruth the Moabite, the widow of Mahlon, I have bought to be my wife, to perpetuate the name of the dead in his inheritance, that the name of the dead may not be cut off from among his brothers and from the gate of his native place. You are witnesses this day.” Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem, and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring that the Lord will give you by this young woman.”
We may figuratively attempt to step into Jesus’ shoes by trying to do good deeds, but we can’t literally wear the shoes or sandals of Christ, because they are probably marked for “divine use only.” However, if we strive with vigilance to follow in His footsteps, and model our lives accordingly, we could experience a similar exhilaration that others have already encountered. 1 Peter 2:21 confirms: “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”
It is believed that Jesus Christ in His roaming magnificent endeavors wore sandals as they were considered the standard footwear at the prevailing time. Sandals were not only practical, they were a symbolism of Jesus because they represented the simple, itinerant lifestyle he lived, signifying His focus on spreading the Gospel message through constant travel and readily engaging with people, rather than material possessions. Wearing sandals would have indicated his readiness to move quickly and easily across the terrain, reflecting his commitment to reaching out to all corners of society with His teachings. Saint John Chrysostom, a Turkish-born important Church Father who served as archbishop of Constantinople once remarked: “How many there are who still say, 'I want to see His shape, His image, His clothing, His sandals.' Behold, you do see Him, you touch Him, you eat Him! You want to see His clothing. He gives Himself to you, not just to be seen but to be touched, to be eaten, to be received within .... Let all of you be ardent, fervent, enthusiastic. If the Jews stood, shoes on, staff in hand, and eating in haste, how much more vigilant should you be. They were about to go to Palestine; ... you are about to go to heaven.”
If a normal everyday person strives to follow much of the divine acts of Christ, it would present a daunting and probably prohibitive task as there is much to live up to. The Apostles and Disciples of Christ had specific authority from Jesus to succeed in their assigned tasks. However, we can be certain that if we serve God in majesty, in return He will protect us, our clothing and our shoes from fragmenting through wear and tear. Our hearts will remain uplifted through achievements accomplished, with the certain knowledge that we truly serve the wishes of the one Almighty God. Deuteronomy 29:1-5 reminds us: “These are the words of the covenant that the Lord commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb. And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet.”
Amen.
