"TRUST YOUR SHOES, MAMMA" my 12 year old son called to me. He was about 10 feet ahead of me as we walked across a field at the foot of a small hill in Upstate New York. My son and his family, my husband and my younger son were part of a rehabilitation program for young people who were coming off drugs. The program included farm work (80 acres of land), animal husbandry, schooling, Bible teaching and character training. I must say it was very successful. The young people who participated, upon their departure, could work hard and use the skills learned there to become productive construction workers, heavy equipment operators, vets, teachers, etc. On this particular beautiful sunny morning, I was taking a group of young people, ages 8 to 15 on a hiking tour around the land. We drove a good distance from the main area and set out on our explorations. The children saw a field and shouted "Let's cut through this field, it will get us to the hill faster." I agreed and as galloping horses they all started running at break neck speed across the field. Only Louis, my son, lagged behind the others walking ahead of me and looked back to see how I was doing. The field had looked great from the car, no weeds or fallen trees. There was only one problem: the hogs (huge, razor backs) had been let loose in the field. I found out first hand what they could do to a field. Hogs are rooters; they eat all the surface foliage and grass, and with their strong snouts dig into the ground in search of roots to eat. They leave it gutted! I was trying to walk across mounds and ruts, clods and grooves and dry cracked land. I was not succeeding very well. I looked up and saw that the children had reached the hill and were looking and laughing. Louis called again, "TRUST YOUR SHOES, MAMMA TRUST YOUR SHOES." My husband had bought me some heavy, leather shoes which fit well above the ankle with heavy soles that reminded me of rubber tires for the car. I hadn't wanted to wear them because they were so ugly, but on his insistence I wore them that morning. As I looked up, my grandson Patrick was running toward us, shouting, "Help maw, maw, Louis." "She's O.K." my son answered loudly and walked a little farther away from me. "I'm coming, Louis" I shouted back to my son and started walking, ignoring the condition of the field. Keeping my mind on my one goal at that moment, the hill, and cheered on by my son and grandson calling "You can make it Mom" I continued walking in a straight line toward those hollering, laughing children. I was no longer trying to walk over, around or between; I just moved and stepped out boldly, trusting the shoes made for this very thing. Louis, Patrick and I finished crossing the field arm in arm. We reached the hill in record time and were greeted by hugs from my son and cheers from the whole group. "We didn't think you could make it", they said (I realized they had chosen the field deliberately). I thanked God that I had a son and grandson who were concerned and that I had wisdom enough to listen to a child. While removing those ugly, useful, specially made, life saving shoes I thanked God for a caring son and grandson and a very smart and ingenious husband who had anticipated what we would need to survive in this totally different environment. It was not the flat land of New Orleans, but had a different climate and horrors, no sidewalks! Pat had purchased boots for wet, rainy, muddy weather, snow and shoes with cleats (prongs) for icy weather, and of course those shoes for rough terrain. I was Southern born and I liked walking in my own bare feet, even my house slippers went unworn most of the time. As I began to prepare dinner and meditated on my recent experience, I heard a sweet familiar voice coming from within saying, "Have your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace." I knew that the Lord wanted to teach me something from this experience. With anticipation I went to my quiet place where I could listen and meditate. This was the second time He would speak to me about shoes. The first time I read about Moses having to take off his shoes, I felt he and I were kindred spirits until the Lord ministered to me that not only did Moses have to take off his shoes but he stood in a special place: The Lord's Holy Ground. He reminded me of the Holy Spirit within me and when I moved in the Spirit, I was on Holy ground too... He instructed me to take off the leadership of my spirit (old man) and walk under His leadership. When we answered the call to come to New York to become a part of this ministry I knew it would necessitate a complete change of outward and personal preferences. There were new relationships, new rules, new schedules, new methods and a completely new environment. From New Orleans to New York, from city life to life on a farm, it was a shocking change for us. Physical as well as spiritual. My son loved it. As well as schooling and scheduled activities he was able to ride horses and roam the land. He even started trapping and made a few dollars. I have to admit that change does not come easy to me as well as others. We made a habit of skirting many issues, going around them and walking between them, not facing them squarely. We were making head way obeying rules and regulations, educating, counseling, structured relationships but something was missing. We did the things we had to do but something more was needed than just following a program. I knew the Lord was about to give me a key. I had forgotten one of His instructions in Ephesians 6:15 ("Have your feet shod in the preparation of the gospel of PEACE"). This was the area He wanted to speak to us about and lead us into. It was a message for all who have ears to hear. His ways are higher than our ways. TRUST in His way of peace inward and outwardly: it wasn't just smiling on the outside, being polite but there was a deeper work of His Spirit He wanted to do in His people, and is doing. Jesus said "In the world you will have tribulation; in Me you will have peace." Not a worldly peace but HIS PEACE. When He sent his disciples to minister, he gave them commands to salute, bless and let peace come upon those to whom they would minister and meet. Salute as used in the New Testament, means to embrace, draw together, and unite. (Give a hug mentally recognizing you represent Jesus and to accept them even as Jesus accepts you.) Outward hugs help, but spiritual hugs bring His peace. In scripture, peace has different meanings, such as absence of mental conflict, freedom from war etc. (worry, fear, insecurity, doubt and lack of trust). In one place, peace means to keep silent (shut up). In His peace he stills the voices that war against our mind. When we Trust Jesus, he calms our inward turmoils and makes us to be at peace with ourselves, so we can be at peace with others. 'Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace,' means a readiness, willingness to walk in his way of peace and to trust in His ways. I am thankful that my son's exhortation "Trust your shoes" led me to a deeper understanding of His ways and a greater Trust in Him. He knows the way we should walk in every circumstance. Let's trust in Him and lean not to our own understanding as He leads us into many new and uncharted paths. - Betty Burke, January 11, 2008 |
