If the Shoe Fits
I have seen the movie Forrest Gump about a gozillion times. In case you haven't, "gozillion" is a Gumpism, one of the character’s sayings that has made its way into common vernacular. The author of the book, Winston Groom, was a very talented author the South is proud to call our own. Yes, we like to claim the good things that have sprouted from Southern soil. We get proprietorial about wonderfully important parts of culture like authors and food and football.
The movie made Groom a household name, and, 25 years after its release, Forrest Gump can be found in quotes, pop culture references, and in the peak of popularity: gifs. One of the more famous Gumpisms is "My mama always said you can tell a lot about a person by their shoes, where they going, where they been." Lots of truth there.
Decades before, another Southern author, Flannery O'Connor, explored details about people's shoes in her dark short story, "Revelation," a commentary on self-righteousness and bias. I have often wondered if Groom got his revelation about shoes from this short story. Before the main character, Mrs. Turpin, realizes how petty and classist she has been, she describes the other characters' shoes, not necessarily wondering where the wearers are going or where they have been, but deciding their class standing. She wasn't nearly as gracious as Mrs. Gump, but she did make some interesting observations.
One of my favorite classroom memories came one year as seniors gave speeches. One young lady did a speech on the differences in black people and white people. One of her points was that while black people took care of their shoes, white people's shoes were always dirty. Since I was sitting in the back of the room, I was able to watch every white kid look down at their shoes at the same time. Then, we all exploded with laughter. Apparently, they had not paid nearly as much attention to shoes as the young orator had.
So, Mrs. Gump, Mrs. Turpin, and my student were all on the same track. Someone's shoes do tell a story. And, it is not just in the eyes of Southerners. There are many types of shoes in the Bible.
There are shoes to be removed so that people can come directly into contact with holy ground without the something of our shoes contaminating it.
Then he said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." (Exodus 3:5, ESV)
And the commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:15, ESV)
God provided the children of Israel with shoes that lasted forty years.
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. (Deuteronomy 29:5, ESV)
Shoes were used as part of making a contract.
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. (Ruth 4:7, ESV)
I want to focus on the shoes of the gospel of peace, the good news of peace.
And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:15, ESV)
Paul includes these shoes as part of the armor of God in Ephesians 6. In this section, he explains to readers that when they are going through difficult times, they aren't struggling with flesh and blood humanity. Instead, they are fighting spirits which are attacking in order to bring a believer’s downfall. He lists several pieces of armor and two weapons, the Word and prayer. But putting on the shoes of peace. What does that do in battle? Now, these aren't everyday sandals he was talking about. All of these pieces of armor are based on Roman armor, including the shoes. I'll be honest. I know more about the modern-day soldier's shoes than I do those of the first-century soldier, but their basic purposes are the same. They need to be durable, comfortable, and protective. Let's look at those things in regard to peace.
Peace is durable. We should have enough faith in God and in his gospel that our peace can withstand the marches of miles over sometimes treacherous terrain. Can we keep our peace when we face trials of health, relationships, or finances?
Peace brings comfort. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, who brings the gift of peace from God. (John 14:26,27) We cannot buy peace, build peace, or get it out of a bottle. When we are in the midst of a battle, having peace can allow us to focus on our duties or on the direction we need to travel. Peace blocks out the chaos around us so that we can think, pray, and hear from the Lord.
Peace is protective. While regular shoes protect us from the elements and injuries, the shoes of peace protect us from the results of panic, insecurity, anger, and other potentially harmful things that are byproducts of life. Losing our cool or our faith at the wrong time can lead to serious mistakes. When we put on the shoes of peace, we are determining to let God’s peace to protect us.
What can people infer from your shoes? Can they tell where you're going and where you’ve been because you walk in peace, because you bring peace with you wherever you are? Ask yourself if you are active in seeking the Lord for peace. Put on your sandals of peace or boots of peace or even your high heels of peace and walk the path the Lord has prepared for you.
