Life Without Shoes
Last week I went five days without shoes. True, it wasn't the full "Seven Days Without Shoes," but it was enough to open my eyes a little. Here are a few ways that living without shoes changed the normal routine and perspective:
1. I looked down a lot. If you want to avoid the pain of stepping on a piece of glass, a slug, or just a pebble, you have to watch where your feet are going to land.
2. I sat with my feet tucked under my legs at work. Thankfully, this is acceptable at my office, and besides being comfortable, it also helped keep my feet warm. Because usually, they were cold.
3. I was very thankful that I could enter the women's restroom instead of the men's.
4. Sometimes I felt self-conscious. I wasn't sure how to interpret various looks or comments. The first awkward encounter was an elderly lady at some meetings last Sunday who laughed loudly and cackled, "You forgot your shoes!" I just smiled and said, "Yep." There were several who asked for an explanation, and I learned that I want to be like that. Don't judge. Don't guess or assume. Just ask. There's usually a good reason. :)
5. People's encouragement and prayers meant a lot to me. Even though it was a little thing, it reminded me of what compassion is really about. Caring for those in need. I hope to pass it on.
6. By about Day 3, I wanted to see the chiropractor, since my pronating foot put my whole body out of alignment, causing some pain in my knee and back. But I didn't go because...well, it might be kind of weird to go in there with no shoes.
7. Which reminds me...going without shoes basically meant going without grocery shopping. I have full respect for those who visited grocery stores and faced walking through the nasty parking lot, hoping they wouldn't get kicked out of the store. I just couldn't do it.
8. It made me really happy to run into other people without shoes, or to see their pictures. We were in this together.
9. Those wet days...not so bad when it was warm. But the cold wet days...
10. The thing I missed most was exercising--just my normal walk after work. Seriously, it was about to make me go crazy.
11. I am thanking God for my shoes. And I'm thankful for a small opportunity to pray for and help those who need them.
1. I looked down a lot. If you want to avoid the pain of stepping on a piece of glass, a slug, or just a pebble, you have to watch where your feet are going to land.
2. I sat with my feet tucked under my legs at work. Thankfully, this is acceptable at my office, and besides being comfortable, it also helped keep my feet warm. Because usually, they were cold.
3. I was very thankful that I could enter the women's restroom instead of the men's.
4. Sometimes I felt self-conscious. I wasn't sure how to interpret various looks or comments. The first awkward encounter was an elderly lady at some meetings last Sunday who laughed loudly and cackled, "You forgot your shoes!" I just smiled and said, "Yep." There were several who asked for an explanation, and I learned that I want to be like that. Don't judge. Don't guess or assume. Just ask. There's usually a good reason. :)
5. People's encouragement and prayers meant a lot to me. Even though it was a little thing, it reminded me of what compassion is really about. Caring for those in need. I hope to pass it on.
6. By about Day 3, I wanted to see the chiropractor, since my pronating foot put my whole body out of alignment, causing some pain in my knee and back. But I didn't go because...well, it might be kind of weird to go in there with no shoes.
7. Which reminds me...going without shoes basically meant going without grocery shopping. I have full respect for those who visited grocery stores and faced walking through the nasty parking lot, hoping they wouldn't get kicked out of the store. I just couldn't do it.
8. It made me really happy to run into other people without shoes, or to see their pictures. We were in this together.
9. Those wet days...not so bad when it was warm. But the cold wet days...
10. The thing I missed most was exercising--just my normal walk after work. Seriously, it was about to make me go crazy.
11. I am thanking God for my shoes. And I'm thankful for a small opportunity to pray for and help those who need them.
Comments
Post a Comment